Gayton Junction to Weedon Bec
7 miles, 0 locks
It was back to 'canal protocol' this morning. No early morning two mile walk with Monty. I was able to leave at 09:50 just ten minutes before the two boats. Then, after 45 minutes and 2.3 miles they caught up with us.
It was a little grey and chilly, but the overnight rain had stopped
It really is a question of being able to pick your mooring with a lot of long lengths of armco to choose from
We were nearing our target of bridge 41 when I saw a 'road works's sign - what was going to be round the corner? Would the towpath be shut?
Thankfully not
Just as I arrived at the bridge Cleddau and Tentatrice came round the corner.
On we went past some wonderful properties - I do love the red balconyand staircase
It was slow progress as we were following another rather slow boat and there were many moored boats to pass - one of the downsides of being back on canals.
There was also inevitably a boat under a bridge around a blind corner
Did this sign slip through the net? Doubly out of date now!
We made it to Weedon Bec, albeit a bit slower than we expected and we managed to moor exactly where we wished to be
Our first task was to pop down the steps that are by the dog box above to suss out the lie of the land for our VIP who is due tomorrow. When her 'chauffeurs' see this bridge they have arrived - just to the left of this photo is a lay-by just perfect for their needs.
Job done, we walked under the bridge past the church (St Peter and St Paul)
and along the street to the small One Stop shop for the papers. Then it was back to the boat for a quiet afternoon.
Thursday 13th September 2018
Weedon Bec
First job of the day was a quick trip to Tesco Express for supplies as we were expecting 6 for lunch. All was prepared when our VIP arrived with her 'chauffeurs'. Who is this VIP - she is a 'very important passenger'. Her owners are off to France for a couple of weeks and Kiera has come for a narrow boat holiday.
She is Monty's best friend. I think this her third narrow boat visit, so she is a fairly seasoned traveller.
What I forgot to do was take any photos whilst Kiera's owners (Jane and Chris) and Sue and Ken were all having lunch. The six of us all met a very long time ago at RAF Waddington. It was good to have a catch up, albeit a brief one before Jane and Chris left for Heathrow,
Chris and I headed off down the towpath with the two dogs to find 'The Depot' that Sue and Ken had found and we were left intrigued. Was it worth it - most definitely. It was once known as The Royal Ordnance Depot.
There is a short length of canal left - this was the lifeline before the railways came along
The building on the right houses an antique centre, and sofa emporium on the ground floor - not too sure about the shop sign, but it made us look and it was memorable, so job done, I guess!?
Upstairs (they are the original stairs from the early 19th century)
is an amazing coffee and book shop. Sadly it was getting towards the end of the day and we did not have time to tarry.
they even have chairs for little ones.
The visitor centre is run by volunteers, is free to enter (donations welcome) and is just on the left as you enter the Depot.
There is a film you can watch about the man who is responsible for winding and maintaining the clock, installed in 1814 - it still keeps perfect time.
The Depot was built as a secure place to store equipment, ammunition and weapons for use by the British Army. It fulfilled its function from the Napoleonic Wars through to the end of National service and serviced every major conflict in-between. Supplying troops did not always go to plan - during the Crimean War boots were dispatched with the left boots on one ship and the right ones on another. The boat carrying the latter sank!
With so much gunpowder and ammunition stored on site the Fire Brigade were an important part of this complex. I am sure the board below was well used over the years. The Firemen had accommodation on site. They did suffer three serious fires over the years.
Security was obviously very important - there was a portcullis door behind what is now the visitor centre. This was raised to allow boats in and out.
This is the winding mechanism for the portcullis. The pegs on the wall were used by the soldiers on guard or portcullis duty to store their tall shako hats.
Just by the entrance/exit is a particularly attractive building - '86'. I have not been able to discover what it was used for, but it is worth a photo
with its interesting chimney.
The complex was completed in 1810 and was decommissioned by the Army in 1965. It was sold in 1984, has been restored and now most buildings are leased as offices and workshops. Why was it built in Weedon Bec? Well the village is in the centre of England and the Grand Union Canal ran through it. The decision for the central location was that it would take an invading army (i.e. the Napoleonic lot!) a long time to get to the arms, ammunition, weaponry, and sundry military stuff stored here. At the time of building the only fast transport available was the canal network. In addition, a canal boat was probably a much more stable device on which to transport kegs of gunpowder!
Opposite what is left of the site there is a modern housing estate with appropriate street names - this one is Navigation Way.
More information can be found HERE. If you come this way it is certainly worth a visit. I am not sure how impressed Monty and Kiera were, but she has had her first outing of her holiday
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