The Stroudwater Canal, and Stroud

The Stroudwater canal, near Stroud in Gloucestershire, is being restored. Sal, my Inland Waterways advisor, tells me that, eventually, this will link the Thames with the Gloucester-Sharpness, which can only be a good thing, surely? A possible problem is that the canal will have to, somehow, somewhere, cross the M5 motorway. Could cause long delays, particularly in the holiday season.

We walked from just east of Stonehouse, along the canal, to Stroud and back. Stroud is thriving, with a really good Saturday market, mostly food and drink, which can rival the best of the French markets. Certainly makes the Portishead once-a-month “Farmers'” market look a bit half-hearted (and expensive).

Ryeford double lock.

Ryeford double lock.

The Stroudwater Canal, Gloucestershire.

The Stroudwater Canal, Gloucestershire.

The Stroudwater Canal, Gloucestershire.

The Stroudwater Canal, Gloucestershire.


Underneath the A419, near Dudbridge, east of Stroud on the Strouswater Canal, Gloucestershire.

Underneath the A419, near Dudbridge, east of Stroud on the Strouswater Canal, Gloucestershire.

Restoration work at Dudworth Lock, on the Stroudwater Canal, Gloucestershire.

Restoration work at Dudworth Lock, on the Stroudwater Canal, Gloucestershire.


Information panel at Wallbridge on the Stroudwater Canal, Gloucestershire.

Information panel at Wallbridge on the Stroudwater Canal, Gloucestershire. [CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE]

The Co-operative Building, Nelson Street, Stroud. Art deco building dated 1931.

The Co-operative Building, Nelson Street, Stroud. Art deco building dated 1931.

Where ARE they?

Where ARE they?

Stroud cycle route marker.

Stroud cycle route marker.

Stroud Saturday market.

Stroud Saturday market.

Stroud Saturday market.

Stroud Saturday market.

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Oxford

It feels like only yesterday that I was at Oxford. Actually, it was! Great day. Went to the Ashmolean for the Francis Bacon/Henry Moore exhibition. Well. I dunno, really. Bit mad and/or pretentious were they? Which is worse? We did like an exhibition by Malcolm Morley, despite the fact that he was the first-ever Turner prize winner. Terrific museum, oldest in the world, I think I’ve read; almost certainly not true. Fantastic markets where we had lunch and bought loads of cheap fruit and veg. And very expensive pasta.

Ashmolean museum, Oxford.

Ashmolean museum, Oxford.

Ashmolean museum, Oxford

Malcolm Morley at The Ashmolean museum, Oxford

Malcolm Morley details.

Malcolm Morley notes at the Ashmolean.

Francis Bacon's studio. His mum was furious!

Francis Bacon’s studio. His mum was furious!

Oxford fruit and veg market.

Oxford fruit and veg market.

Oxford covered market.

Oxford covered market.

Oxford covered market.

Oxford covered market.

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The Severn estuary

There is a huge tidal range in the Severn estuary. At spring high tides the pier near us is covered, meaning that the fisherman usually on it have to cast from the sea wall. Later in the day we walked past the “Second Severn Crossing”, carrying the M4 motorway to Wales.

Portishead pier about an hour after high tide.

Portishead pier about an hour after high tide. The Second Severn Crossing (see below) is in the far distance.

The M4 crossing the Severn estuary, looking towards Wales.

The M4 crossing the Severn estuary, looking towards Wales.

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Leisure lifeboats

Walking back from the nature reserve yesterday afternoon we crossed the lock gates when three lifeboats were leaving. Not an emergency at sea, just retired boats, now lovingly cared for by their new owners. First out was the Pentland, a restored ex-RNLI Watson lifeboat which originally served in Scotland. Then the Douglas Currie, a Mark 2 Solent class lifeboat built in 1973, also from Scotland, and last the lovely little Always Ready, a Liverpool class lifeboat built in 1933. These pictures were taken with my phone. (You can guarantee a picture opportunity if you don’t have a camera on you.) NB: Click on any photo to enlarge.

The Pentland, on the left, and The Douglas Currie.

The Pentland, on the left, and The Douglas Currie.

The Douglas Currie, in front of The Pentland.

The Douglas Currie, in front of The Pentland.

The Always Ready.

The Always Ready.

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The Massey Shaw fire boat

We have a famous lady visiting Portishead Marina; the Massey Shaw was a fire boat, built in 1935, which served the London Fire Brigade for many years and took part in “Operation Dynamo”, the 1940 Dunkirk rescues. She’s been restored in Gloucester, and has recently travelled down the Sharpness Canal and is spending a few nights here. Rather than going back to the Thames by sea (which was originally planned for last June), delays have meant that this is not possible at this time of year, so she is undertaking the return journey by road next Saturday night. Bon voyage to the old girl. 

More details HERE.

The Massey Shaw fire boat.

The Massey Shaw fire boat.


The Massey Shaw fire boat.

The Massey Shaw fire boat.


The Massey Shaw fire boat.

The Massey Shaw fire boat.

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Family

I have some very well-scattered cousins. Australia, Germany, Switzerland and many parts of England. All originating from a small area of east London, with valuable additional genetic input from north Essex in the form of Ivor. As far as I know, this diasporation (surely not a word?) was for entirely non-criminal reasons. They slip back in from time to time though (the Border Control Agency is very overworked, apparently) and Simon and Jan were here from Australia recently. Simon and I popped over to Ivor’s for a chat and some very nice biscuits.

Ivor and Simon.

Ivor and Simon.

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Chew Valley lake

We had a walk around Chew Valley Lake. A reservoir created in 1956. A bit cold, so had lunch in a bird hide.

Chew Magna lake.

Chew Valley lake.

Bird hide on Chew Valley lake.

Bird hide on Chew Valley lake.

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Clevedon at low tide

Clevedon sandband. Second Severn Crossing in distance.

Clevedon sandband. Second Severn Crossing in far distance.

Clevedon. Sea-lakes and pier in distance.

Clevedon. Sea-lakes and pier in distance.

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Sculptures

It looks as if the building work in Portishead will be coming to an end in a year or so. In the final stages, two massive cranes have been erected, overshadowing Michael Dan Archer’s sculpture “Full Fathom Five”.

"Full Fathom Five" by Michael Dan Archer.

“Full Fathom Five” by Michael Dan Archer.

"Full Fathom Five" by Michael Dan Archer.

“Full Fathom Five” by Michael Dan Archer.

Read about the sculpture, and artist, here: www.publicartportishead.co.uk 

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Avon Gorge

Bristol Downs, Circular Road, near where we used to live. Picture taken from southern side of Avon Gorge.

Bristol Downs, Circular Road, near where we used to live. Picture taken from Leigh Woods on southern side of Avon Gorge.

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