So I made tarot cards. I apologize for this being late! I worked super hard on these and tried to combine the meaning behind the drawings for tarot and that from Inferno. In the Fool card the…
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Whitchurch to Grindley Brook
A sunshine filled Special Edition!
St Alkmunds Church, Whitchurch, Sunday 10th July 2022 (Author’s Collection).
After stumbling upon the magnificence of the multiple Locks to the entrance/departure of the Llangollen Canal not 48 hours before, I decided to up the ante and see for myself the splendour of the “Staircase” Locks at Grindley Brook and as this Sunday morning was so sunny, it seemed rude not to commence and complete our sunshine filled stroll from the quaint market town of Whitchurch just over two miles from the “Staircase” itself. So what follows is roughly a 5+ mile round trip and huge bumper crop (even for me) of a three part special edition that begins and ends in Whitchurch via a brief detour into the town itself, before an elongated look at the Locks and the beautiful confines of Grindley Brook.
Only brief colour commentary on the images from hereon in, and I sincerely hope you enjoy this virtual stroll beside the Llangollen Canal, on the winding border between England and Wales.
Disclaimer
As per my previous articles on the canals in the picturesque UK county in which I live, I don’t claim to have any experience of either a canal boat lifestyle or the inner workings and trials and tribulations of life on a houseboat/canal boat or narrow boat (whichever you prefer). I just find the peace, tranquillity and the quirky nature of an almost bygone way of existence and determination to live your life in this way, and in a floating house too, endlessly fascinating. I also bask and prosper in the sunshine, love the sights and sounds of canal life juxtaposed with the earthy nature and countryside that surrounds it, and simply discovering a new piece of the canal waterways puzzle never fails to raise a smile on my face. Guaranteed (Guaranteed) to receive oodles of smiles and “Hello’s” and “Good Afternoon’s” from the human beings you meet and watching dogs leap into a canal in search of a well thrown stick or ball can’t fail to amuse the child in all of us.
So much for all that.
*All images captured by me today, 10th July 2022*
A somewhat strange start to our stroll in the sun and a horseshoe route of the Llangollen Canal that circles Whitchurch and a canal locally looked after by the Whitchurch Waterways Trust.
A reverse view of the introductory image above and a beautiful look back before we progress through a delightfully winding stretch of this canal.
All you could wish to know about the small market town of Whitchurch on the English/Welsh border.
The first of many “Stop” or “Lift” Bridges in Whitchurch. This is number 31 or “New Mills Lift Bridge”.
All you wish to know regarding the “Arm” or as I describe a “Horseshoe” stretch of canal surrounding Whitchurch.
Bridge Number 31 or “New Mills Lift Bridge”.
The first of many “Perfect Timing” moments on a perfect morning in some beautiful sunshine.
A representation of the beautiful wide open Shropshire countryside that surrounds this stretch of the Llangollen Canal.
A return view of the busy Whitchurch Marina.
A return to central Whitchurch and our original starting point before we sweep to the left along the canal later.
Bridge 31 or “New Mills Lift Bridge” and a strangely beautiful image of a bygone age.
Fancy some wood fired pizza before a long wooded stroll into the market town of Whitchurch?
St Alkmunds Church, Jubilee bunting and the Black and White Tudor period buildings that are prevalent throughout the county towns of Shropshire.
View from St Alkmunds Church on a beautifully sunny Sunday.
More Jubilee bunting and a magnificent example of the Tudor architecture of this small county market town.
Whitchurch is also famously known as a “Town of Clocks”.
Back to the canal and a further mile or so stroll to the “Staircase” Locks of Grindley Brook.
A gloriously sunshine filled “Perfect Timing” moment from this morning.
The approach to Bridge Number 30 or “Danson’s Bridge”.
View from atop Bridge Number 30 and the beginning of a very long and straight approach to Grindley Brook.
A reverse view from whence we came, but it’s a gloriously sunshine filled view and has to be included if only for a selfish favourite image from this morning.
On the final approach to the outskirts of Grindley Brook.
A “Perfect Timing” moment on the final approach to Grindley Brook.
All you could ever wish to know about the “Staircase” Locks of Grindley Brook.
Lock Number 1 at Grindley Brook and the first of 3 in the “Staircase”.
View from Lock Number 2 through to Number 3 and a gently lowering canal boat within the Lock.
View from Lock Number 2 through to Number 3 with the canal boat now fully lowered and ready to depart.
View from atop Bridge 29 to demonstrate the extent of the 3 intricate “Staircase” Locks.
A particularly favourite image captured this morning, demonstrating the extent of the final drop in the “Staircase” to depart beneath Bridge 29 at Grindley Brook.
Lock Number 4 at Grindley Brook and onward to the 5th of 6 overall Locks.
A reverse look back to Lock Number 4 and a beautiful representation of a sunshine filled Sunday morning.
Please say hello to “Western Grebe”.
A reverse view as the “Western Grebe” enters Lock Number 4.
A final minor bend in the canal as we approach the 6th and final Lock of Grindley Brook and Bridge Numbered 28 or “Grindley Brook Bridge”.
View from atop Bridge 28 and the long lengthy stretches of canal that lead ultimately in 10 or so miles to the Locks of Hurleston and the merging with the Shropshire Union Canal.
Another pleasing “Perfect Timing” moment as we make our way back through the Locks.
Please see above comments!
A final reverse view to Lock Number 6 and Bridge Number 28 at Grindley Brook.
From Lock Number 5 to 4 as we return to the “Staircase” Locks.
A “Perfect Timing” moment as the boat ahead departs Lock Number 4.
Lock Number 4 at Grindley Brook.
A final return view and the Lock in full action.
A final view at Lock Number 3 of the “Staircase” Locks before the canal boat drops to depart beneath Bridge 29.
Beautiful Grindley Brook.
Beautiful Grindley Brook.
A final image as we depart Grindley Brook for the two or so miles back to Whitchurch.
(1) Two strangely beautiful images from Bridge 30 or “Danson’s Bridge”.
(2) Two “Perfect Timing” moments between bridges 30 and 30a (not shown) on the outskirts of Whitchurch.
Another “Perfect Timing” moment as we approach Bridge 30a or “Whitchurch By-Pass Bridge”.
A final turn for home from the horseshoe of canal and back from whence we started.
A final pleasing image of the strangely quirkily beautiful entrance to and departure from, Whitchurch.
Your humble narrator at Grindley Brook Locks, 11th July 2022.
Thanks for reading. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual stroll along a canal in the central beating heart of England and if so, please also consider these other recently published editions within this continuing series of articles:
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