Penkridge

Tixall Wide

Firstly correct some duff info from yesterday. Alert readers will of course will have noticed that we were previously at Tixall Wide in April this year, rather than last. Boating has that effect - things go by in a blur. Also, my guide book says that Tixall Wide was probably created by the canal company to provide the local landowner living at Tixall House with a good view. Tixall House no longer exists, but from the Wide one can see a magnificent gatehouse, the size of a 3 storey mansion, so the house must have been very grand indeed.

This morning we finished off a spot of painting where the boat gutter had begun to rust and when this had dried we set off south down the Staffs and Worcestershire Canal. Progress was rather slow as the canal is shallow in places, narrow and far from straight. The canal is a fairly early one opened in 1772. It was engineered by the great James Brindley as part of his grand plan to link the Mersey, Trent, the Severn, and the Thames.

After stopping for lunch at Acton Trussell we visited Midland Chandlers just outside Penkridge, where we were able to buy a replacement aerial for the one that was broken in Rugeley. At the cost of a mere £5 we are now back fully operational.

A further mile took us to Penkridge, a small town built around the canal near the M6 north of Wolverhampton. During the afternoon we walked into the town centre where there is a coop, butchers, bakers, several other shops and a number of pubs, one of which I must admit we did visit.