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Behind us the clock tower entrance into the basin just beside the ringroad.
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In front of us the warehouses alongside the basin where once cement, food and grains were stored. I don't seem to have taken a photo of the other side of the basin which once had vaults for coal, now there are shops, offices and flats. It makes a good quiet mooring with easy access to the city and not too far from Sainsbury's.
Leaving the basin this morning we set off back along the 5 mile stretch to Hawkesbury Junction passing Cash's Hundred Houses (actually there were only ever 48, now 37).
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Cash's is that firm which makes woven name labels, I'm sure you all had them in your school clothes! The company is still producing them although not in this row of houses which had the weaving looms on the upper floor. There was a steam engine in the middle of the row which drove a shaft to run the weaving looms. They are much grander than the weavers cottages we saw when in Yorkshire.
According to Wikipedia: The company was founded by two brothers, John and Joseph Cash. The brothers, who were Quakers, were philanthropists and model employers. In 1857, Cash's commissioned a series of three-storey weavers' cottages on a plot of land alongside the Coventry Canal, then in countryside, outside the city boundary. Each had a garden. On the top floor of each cottage was a well-lit work area, known collectively as 'Cash's Topshops', housing a Jacquard Loom powered by a central, steam-powered beam engine.
They opened for business on 12 October 1857, and the individual workshops were combined into single, large, workspaces in 1862. The houses still stand, and were Grade II listed on 10 October 1975.
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Back at Hawkesbury we turned into the basin
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and the stop lock marking the start of the Oxford Canal.
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On our way to Rugby we met Gosty Hill the fuel boat and stopped for a couple more bags of coal. Don't think we shall need much more now the weather is getting warmer. We haven't let the fire out yet, just keeping it burning low.
17 miles, 1 lock, 1 bridge, 1 tunnel
I not only had Cash's woven labels in my own school clothes, I also bought sets for both of my lads when they began school!
ReplyDeleteAs did I for my two and more recently for Ian's Mum when she moved into a nursing home.
DeleteWe're hiring a narrowboat and will be going from Rugby - Snarestone - Coventry - Rugby. What's the turning area like at Coventry? It looks horrific on the map. Any tips for our trip? Good pubs for food? Quiet scenic moorings? Many thanks. A gap year on the canal network - sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSue,
DeleteThe Ashby Canal is lovely and there are quite a few quiet country moorings. Market Bosworth is a nice little town, worth the walk in. Several good choices there for eating.
Also I think it was Sutton Wharf, popular little cafe with moorings.
The Coventry Canal- Hawkesbury into the Basin we tend to tackle in one go. The Basin is quiet and short way from City centre. Shouldn't be a problem to turn there. We love Coventry, transport museum is very good, Cathedrals too, shopping centre bit disrupted with works in March, could be finished by now. We like the Cosmo restaurant, buffet style, lunch and evening, with very wide selection of asian and barbecue dishes.
Moorings as Hawkesbury ok with Greyhound pub at junction, historical canal pub. From Rugby, railway and motorway are close by, so try to choose quieter spots for night. Easenhall, Brinklow, Ansty are possibles.
Hope you have a good trip. Let us know how you get on.