View across the fields through a break in the hedgerow
We left our mooring at 10.00 this morning, a fine sunny day, temperature forecast 18-23o. At long last, perfect narrowboat weather.
Gypsy Cobs are everywhere, it seems as though they are taking over the fields of England
I spoke yesterday about fishermen's kit - only the man and his thermos are missing.
The approach to our third lock of the day, Dimmingsdale
We reached our first stop of the day at Wightwick Bridge (pronounced wittick) so we could visit a National Trust Property, Wightwick Manor. However we passed a very attractive pub on our walk to the manor and it proved so inviting we popped in for a quick nibble before tackling the manor. The quick nibble took 1 1/2 hours and turned into a delicious two course lunch. After which we waddled our way up to Wightwick Manor.
It is one of the few surviving examples of a house built under the influencemofmthr Arts and Craft Movement. It was designed by Edward Ould in two parts, the 1st completed in 1887 and the great parlour wing in 1893. It was built for one Theodore Mander, paint and varnish manufacturer of Wolverhampton.
The Manor is filled with Kempe Glass, De Morgan tiles, and William Morris everywhere - on the walls, underfoot, chair covers, bed covers, curtains, cushions, and tapestries. It was way over the top, one would go ga ga living there. No wonder Theodore's son, an MP, who inherited it in 1937, convinced the National Trust to take it on - while he and his family continued to live there. Descendants of the family still reside there in a private wing (I would wager, with not a bit of William Morris in it)
The manor seemed to be designed to encompass as many building styles as possible
The front entrance
This is for Katie, a William Morris chair
Bay window, with stained glass detail above and William Morrise cushions below
Disturbing ceiling (sorry folks, couldn't help myself) in the dining room
One of the great many William Morris wallpapers
Looking down into the living room from the gallery
I was impressed with the living room inglenook, but it must not haven much use for heating the rest of the room
One more for Katie, a bedspread
One last one, hare sketch, the template for the famous hare cushion tapestry.
Then it was back to the boat, totally overdosed on textiles, to try and get to Autherley Junction for a pump out before Oxley Marina closed. Coming into Comptom
The bottom of Comptom Lock. Lots of people up at the lock, lock landing full, a boat breasted up spelt trouble ahead.
We moored up at the end of the queue to be told that the top gate on the lock wouldn't close, something was obstructing it and that the boat at the head of the queue had been there for two hours. There went our chance of a pump out this afternoon. Fortuitously, less,than 100metres from the Canal was a little Sainsburys, so I did a quick shop while Lawrence held the fort. As a reward for his forbearance at Wightwick Manor I slipped a couple of ice creams into the trolley. While going through the Manor I couldn't help thinking of Lawrence's mother, Margaret, she may not have liked it, but she would have really appreciated seeing it.
So we enjoyed our icrecream a during the enforced layup. Eventually a cheer went up from the top of the lock, the cluster of burly blokes had managed to dislodge whatever it was blocking the gate. So now we just had to wait for our turn to work up the lock. I was a little concerned because by the time it was our turn all the burly blokes had disappeared so it was just little old me. Not to worry, the gate worked fine and a walker who had stopped to watch all the action remained to help me close the problem gate. He has a brother who has been living in Camden (for the Victorians, just outside Sydney - where MacArthur had his farm) for years and who has just moved to Eden, but his wife hates it (I wonder why!). Yesterday it was a relative living in Jindabyne, so we're getting closer; usually it's Perth or Brisbane and until yesterday, Melbourne was the closest. It makes us chuckle because we then often get the comment, oh you are a long way from Derbyshire, and we haven't been more than two hours away at any time on this trip - by car that is, not narrowboat.
Before we leave Compton Lock behind a little statistic. This lock marks the end of the 31 lock climb, and a rise of 294' from the Severn River at Stourport. We now have a 10mile level pound (oh bliss, say my shoulders) to Gailey, where the first of 12 locks takes us down to the Trent and Mersey, home territory for this little boat.
Disused railway bridge (61) at Tettenhall, that is now part of the South Staffordshire Railway walk.
You wouldn't know we are skirting the western suburbs of Wolverhampton although I don't think 'western suburbs' here, has the same connotation as in Melbourne or Sydney.
Addersley Junction, off to the right. Last chance to head into Birmingham - no thanks it's straight into a 21 lock climb in less than 2 miles, and that's just to warm you up.
Addersley Bridge just after the junction.
I rang the marina where we were hoping for a pump out, but unfortunately the little man wasn't very cooperative and told us to moor up opposite and we could have a pump out in the morning. Our mooring for the night is non too salubrious.
6 1/2 miles, 6 locks, 4 1/2 hours
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