Market Bosworth

A bright although chilly and breezy morning meant I was able to head off for a stroll around the town so around 11:00 I set off along the tow path, over the new marina entrance bridge.

Looking rather new and half empty, and breezy.

Then up onto Station Road for third time to tackle the mile long uphill walk to the town itself.

Passing over the railway with Market Bosworth station below, the middle of the three stations that make up the ‘Battlefield Line’, Shenton and Shackerstone being at the opposite ends of the line.

 About half way up the hill I wandered along a private little access road to take this view overlooking the local golf course, I would walk across the far side of this view later.

And then returning to the main road this signpost signifies that you are entering the town, still a long walk uphill to go though.

On the left as you walk up this road are some very large detached houses but mostly set back and hidden from view while on the right is a fairly modern estate, the small Catholic Church is a more modern building.

 Around this point the housing becomes mixed and closer together approaching the town, and then amongst the usual houses you suddenly find this beautiful thatched property.

The garden is a real mix of oddities carvings and such, just a couple of pictures but there was lots hidden away and tucked into little spaces, delightful, I bet the owner is a real character!

Next door this house has its own fuel pump, very handy when there is a strike J

When you see the ‘chippy’ you know you are almost there, “The Batter Of Bosworth”

This imposing building is “The Dixie Grammar School” with the sign above the door in Latin and me being a right scholar....errrm...... I Wiki’d it.

From Wikipedia.........

“The earliest records of the School's existence date from 1320, but the school was re-founded in 1601 under the will of an Elizabethan merchant and Lord Mayor of London, Sir Wolstan Dixie, by his great-nephew Sir Wolstan Dixie of Appleby Magna, who came to live in Market Bosworth in 1608.”

I bet you did your work there or paid the price!

The market square seems to double as a car park nowadays and somewhere to leave your delivery bike.

 “The Old Black Horse Inn” currently not an Inn but a rather nice looking restaurant.

And some nice buildings just off the market square

Not something we see these days, a water pump in the street.

Walking around the outskirts of the Town Center I came across this peaceful little Garden of Remembrance although not at its best this time of year.

And obviously with its links to the Battle of Bosworth there was a very nice informative display area.

I hope you can read this poem, enlarge it if not

The Church of England’s “St Peter’s Church” dominates the back of the town although there is also a large park area and a hotel and spa opposite that for those that can afford a stay.

My circular route took me back towards the town center where “Ye Old Red Lion Hotel” occupies the corner of Main Street and Park Street.

I then headed off across country leaving the town center by way of the aptly named road “Back End” which runs alongside the Co-op Store along a section of unmade lane and across the golf course

 There is a small airfield here which I saw no evidence of use but it was signed to warn you not to loiter!

Hedge reduced in size in case the pilot misjudges the height.

Then across the cowfield, they did not seem at all interested in me.

And back over the railway line and then bridge 43 to get me back on the towpath and back to the boat.

It was a very pleasant walk around and through a lovely little town. 

Took a walk around Shackerstone....

...on Saturday, another lovely small village with a big church and a big pub, I didn’t venture inside either.

The very small village green was on ‘Main Street’, these villages don’t seem very adventurous with the street names.

The Rising Sun 

Typical example of the housing.

I am not sure if the village hall was still in fact a village hall or a private residence, the attached residential property next door certainly looked as though it was originally part of a much larger hall.

The Village Hall

I then crossed the canal again and walked up to Shackerstone Station, the other end of the ‘Battlefield Line’ railway, but there was not much happening and unless you are a railway enthusiast not much to see but this is the front of the Station.

On Monday I moved off at 10am and headed to Market Bosworth, as I passed Congerstone I looked to see if by some small miracle my mooring chain was still in place but no such luck! so I carried on and found a towpath mooring just before the new Marina entrance.

I wandered all around the outer reaches of the marina to eventually find the Chandlers, as the site is still not finished you cannot gain access from where I am mooored about 2minutes away so it was more like a 15 minute walk, access will be a lot easier once all the work is completed. I replaced my mooring chain and bought a spare.

Yesterday I took an uphill walk to the town center to pick up some provisions and returned again this morning to get some fresh vegetables from the very small farmers market (one fruit and veg stall and one fishmongers van) I also visited the local butcher and bought some bits in there.

I am staying here a while as I only have one more stop to make before reaching Trinity Marina on November 3rd where Quinquireme will have a weeks rest, and I will do the touristy bit here if and when the sunshine returns but from what I’ve seen so far it’s a lovely little town.

Current Mooring.

Total travel : 4 miles  

Snarestone and a little further.

Yesterday I took a walk around Snarestone, along the towpath first to reach the Tunnel (250yards) South portal

Snarestone tunnel South portal

 Up the steps brings you into the car park of “The Globe”

Through the car park, cross the road and down the public footpath brings you back to the towpath, Snarestone tunnel has no towpath through it and it is one way traffic I suspect because of the bend halfway through it or it could be because of lack of headroom if two boats were passing side by side.

Bend in tunnel restricting width.

Snarestone only really has a “Main Street” with a couple of little side roads leading off, nothing remarkable or noteworthy and I only spotted the one Thatched property which was split into three cottages, there was a primary school and a mix of housing quite a few being new.

I pottered around for the rest of the day and in the afternoon I caught the fuel boat Auriga (Rick) and took 54 litres of diesel and 3 bags of smokeless coal, that should see me until I'm off the Ashby, I then had a chat with Sue who lives at the current terminus along with her husband on their narrowboat and looks after the Ashby Canal Association shop/office.

This morning I could not decide whether to move on or stay another night, phone and internet signals are both very poor, but it was quite cold and overcast, not ideal cruising weather, however at 11:30 I decided to move, so onwards through the tunnel, this pathetic attempt is the best of three pictures I took,

 My lovely camera won’t co-operate when it’s totally in the dark, refusing to flash, I need to work out what the problem, anyway here is a better effort of me exiting through the North portal.

Stopping at the service point at the terminus to do the usual emptying and filling.

Approaching the current limit of navigation, the small swingbridge.

Looking from the swingbridge to the section under restoration

Looking back from the swingbridge, winding hole is behind the boat on the left.

Ashby Canal Society Office/shop

I then needed to reverse into the winding hole to turning around and retrace my journey back to Shackerstone once again passing only one other boat.

Tonights mooring

Unfortunately the phone and internet signals have not improved!

Total today 4.5 miles : 1 Tunnel (twice)