Thursday 3 June 2010

T is for Trent and Mersey

(Best viewed large)

This is Stenson Bubble on the Trent and Mersey Canal. When I was a teenager, I used to come here often. It was my playground.

Over the years, some things have changed; but the lock is still the same (more or less). The lock gates have been replaced and the little wooden plank footbridge, which nestled against the stone wall of the narrow roadbridge, is now a metal structure complete with handrail on the open side (probably not a bad idea considering the 20 foot drop into about 2 feet of water).

More boats come through too. As kids, we would hang around for hours, climbing all over the lock gates, waiting for a boat. When one did eventually come, we would be very willing helpers, watching the churning water either filling or emptying the between-gate section, depending on whether the boat was an upper or downer, and then putting our full weight against the gate bar, feet dug in against the ridges along the ground, straining to heave it open to allow passage.

This photo is taken from below the lock. You can just make out the lower gate through the bridge arch.


By the way, having had a canal as a childhood playground, I tend to assume that everyone understands the workings of locks, and was staggered to discover that the children in my first school (for whom 'Canal' meant the somewhat more significant waters of the Manchester Ship canal) had not the first clue about the lock system. If, like them, you are slightly puzzled, but want to know more, click here for a quick and easy animated explanation.

I'm linking this post to Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday. To see more contributions to this meme, click here.

23 comments:

  1. What a lovely place. How lucky to have had this for your playground as a child, and what a fun story about helping with the locks. Kathy

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  2. What a fond memory...great place to be a kid and play!~

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  3. fascinating series of posts! thanks for the education!

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  4. what a great place to go :D

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  5. Great place to go - and great memories!

    Many thanks for visiting - look forward to *seeing* you again next week for "U"!

    LOLA:)

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  6. What a lovely T post, and a nice place to play!
    Blessings,
    Catherine

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  7. What a lovely T post. We hve lots of locks in our canals too. Can;t believe people don't know them

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  8. What a lovely T post ... I have never seen a canal such as this ... very cool!

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  9. Oh the canal I knew was not anything as nearly as beautiful as yours..It looks very nice.

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  10. Water uis just wonderful isn't it!

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  11. That looks like a great place to grow up. Sounds like it was a lot of fun. Great T post.

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  12. This is sooooo cool!

    I used to love going to the Ohio River and watching the boats go through the locks. How fun for you to have grown up with them as a playground.

    This was a totally terrific link to Alphabe-Thursday's Letter "T"!

    It really made my imagination work over-time!

    Thanks for participating!

    A+

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  13. what wondrous t post!
    lovely and beautiful!

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  14. Never heard of it. Thanks for new information. Great post.

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  15. thanks for reading picky and leaving it some love. :]

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  16. Like the Beatles said, "Ferry 'cross the Mersey"!

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  17. great pictures and what a wonderful playground!

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  18. Wild abandon were the first words to come to mind when I read this. The photos in the post that follow are wonderful.

    Thank you so much for dropping by my place and leaving such thoughtful words of understanding and caring. I do believe a power greater than myself will guide me through this.

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  19. Such a fine selection for your "T"...I love boats and water...canals are fascinating...Peace and blessings

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  20. I love the water and boats....It looks like a great place to play as a child.....

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  21. I find locks absolutely fascinating, tho' it's been many years since I last visited one! Great post.

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  22. I know what a canal is, but I've never had the opportunity to see one in person. It must really be something to see.

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  23. I've been drooling over the website for canal boats on the Brecon canal - it's on my list of things to do!

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