Week 2. Trent & Mersey Canal and the Macclesfield Canal

Josiah Wedgwood was the most famous innovator of pottery; he started in 1759 and by 1766 was to build a large factory in Stoke which was in use until the 1930s when an alternative site in open country close to the canal near Barlaston became the new location.

We left Stoke early, 6 miles and 8 locks aiming to reach Barlaston before lunch and visit the centre. Guess what? Moored up, walked to the visitor’s centre, only to discover it was closed for a major refurbishment. Bugger. 

Rainbow at Barlaston

The trip is slower than it would normally be due to the weather, we seem to have had more wet days than dry and as we don’t travel well in the rain time moored up reading, watching the TV and an occasional glass of wine seems to be the norm.  

Eventually we passed through Stoke-on-Trent, then the Harecastle Tunnel (1.75 miles, long it takes 30 minutes to travel through and you need to duck in places to save being scraped along the ceiling).  Exiting the tunnel we left the Trent & Mersey canal and turn north onto the Macclesfield Canal. We planned to chug for a further 3 miles and visit the 15th century Little Moreton Hall, one of England’s greatest half-timbered buildings. It’s about 1mile across farm land to reach the Hall from the canal and guess what it was raining. It was so bad that the cows had turned the track into a quagmire, which on top of the rain meant that was another planned visit that failed. Another bugger.

Half way up the Bosley Locks north of Congleton

We are presently moored about 3 miles south of Marples and intend to stay the day as it’s raining again. The last two days saw us stop for at short visit to Congleton before moving onto Macclesfield and then to Bollington. Best fish & chips for miles in Bollington.

Clarence Mill Bollington

We've not commented on Macclesfield as we had visited the town previously.  Please see our earlier blog for details.

Marples tomorrow and the 16 lock Marple’s flight into the Goyt valley.