Image for identification

[Heartland]

From the RCHS Collection are there any thoughts on where the Butty Birdwood is seen?

 

 

[Ray T]

Is that a winding hole on the left or an arm entrance?

[Chris M Jones]

This image was reproduced in Mike Webb's book Shroppie Boats from the Edwin Shearing Collection. The caption gives the location as the bottom lock of the Audlem flight. The motor is ANSON and the image was taken in November 1959.

[alan_fincher]

I can't work out what the load is.

Clearly nothing very heavy for that type of butty to be showing so much dry sides.

 

I assume that description indicates below the Audlem flight, moving away from it.  Did the canal there really look like that?

[magnetman]

Norton junction facing towards Buckby locks? Can't remember as have not been there for about 13 years. 

[John Brightley]

8 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Norton junction facing towards Buckby locks? Can't remember as have not been there for about 13 years. 

Very unlikely as Birdswood was a Northwestern Division boat, operating generally on the Shroppie and T&M canals. @Chris M Jones is almost certainly correct.

Edited January 18, 2023 by John Brightley

[magnetman]

Photo taken from bridge number 12 and I think those are Grand Junction canal telegraph poles. 

 

Just my vague recollection.

[alan_fincher]

22 minutes ago, alan_fincher said:

I assume that description indicates below the Audlem flight, moving away from it.  Did the canal there really look like that?

 

Looking at a Nicholsons, if it is as above, then there would be a winding hole at about the point it looks like there could be one.

 

However after that, not very far at all from the bottom lock, shows as Moss Hall Aqueduct.  I'm not knowledgable enough on the Shroppie to know what that aqueduct looks like, but unless it doesn't involve any change to the canal width, and has no walls or railings visible from the cut it does seem inconsistent with the picture.

 

 

[magnetman]

If it is taken from the bridge by Buckby Wharf then the little clear area on the left after the junction is still a CRT depot of sorts so perhaps an old wharf.

Bank protection on the right hand side really looks like GUCCo upgrade 1934 concrete piling. 

 

Also it looks a bit wide to be a narrow canal. Definitely (to me) has the feel of the GU. I also think the alignment is exactly right for my suggestion. The rising land on the right hand side is also suggestive of a contour approaching a flight of locks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by magnetman

[John Brightley]

5 minutes ago, alan_fincher said:

 

However after that, not very far at all from the bottom lock, shows as Moss Hall Aqueduct.  I'm not knowledgable enough on the Shroppie to know what that aqueduct looks like, but unless it doesn't involve any change to the canal width, and has no walls or railings visible from the cut it does seem inconsistent with the picture.

The canal doesn't narrow over that aqueduct and nor does it have railings etc next to the water. When boating, it's actually easy to miss the fact you're going over the river there.

Edited January 18, 2023 by John Brightley

[Chris M Jones]

This view looking north was taken from Moss Hall Bridge 79 on the Shroppie at Audlem. It shows the winding-hole on the left which this Google Earth image shows with VICEROY moored there.

 

 

[junior]

From the lay of the land, the winding hole and the fact the camera person is on a bridge, I'd say that is definitely the bottom of Audlem locks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, magnetman said:

Norton junction facing towards Buckby locks? Can't remember as have not been there for about 13 years. 

There would be houses on the left if that were Norton Junction

Photo from https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5073839

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

1 hour ago, alan_fincher said:

I can't work out what the load is.

Clearly nothing very heavy for that type of butty to be showing so much dry sides.

 

I assume that description indicates below the Audlem flight, moving away from it.  Did the canal there really look like that?

 

If I remember correctly, it looks very much like winding hole at the bottom of the Audlem flight looks today,

The building is out of site on the left, if it existed then, and nothing much has changed 

Edited January 18, 2023 by Goliath

[magnetman]

A bit arts and crafts looking isn't it. The house in the geograph picture I mean. 

Edited January 18, 2023 by magnetman

[David Mack]

Moss Hall Winding hole below Audlem bottom lock

From https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6069271

 

Looks pretty much like the OP's image location to me.

[junior]

This is the view looking the other way. The person taking the picture on the OP is stood on the bridge looking towards this photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[magnetman]

17 minutes ago, David Mack said:

Moss Hall Winding hole below Audlem bottom lock

From https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6069271

 

Looks pretty much like the OP's image location to me.

It looks much wider than 30ft in the old photo. Maybe a camera effect. 

 

Also the house at Norton Junction is riddled with pvc double glazing and built in local stone so I think probably not very old. Certainly not listed judging by the windows ! 

 

 

[Derek R.]

The load - Barrels of oil for Duckhams?

 

That barn like house in the winding hole, wasn't that where DayStar theatre Co. were based for a time?

Edited January 18, 2023 by Derek R.

[Ray T]

25 minutes ago, magnetman said:

 

 

Also the house at Norton Junction is riddled with pvc double glazing and built in local stone so I think probably not very old. Certainly not listed judging by the windows ! 

 

 

 

If this is the house(s) you refer to, they used to belong to Waterways, I'm sure they have history prior to that. I believe they are now holiday cottages. The single house was a toll keepers house as boats were gauged at the junction. This house was later lived in by Major & Mrs. Fielding of the Salvation Army following their retirement from ministering to boaters needs at Sutton Stop.

 

https://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/EXTRASIMAGE2290

 

https://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/EXTRASIMAGE1547

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by Ray T

[Derek R.]

Tied up on the far bank in the gauging image is a boat that looks like KINGFISHER, the company inspection boat.

 

 

I must have taken these in the late eighties, and after Major Fielding had passed.

 

 

 

I recall the cradle used to have a makeshift model narrowboat on it, ready to launch.

When we first passed in 1983, The Major was in the garden with his Airdale letting us know he was 'on guard'!

I have a thought that the caravan used to be a shelter for those in need.

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by Derek R.

[Tony Brooks]

19 hours ago, magnetman said:

Norton junction facing towards Buckby locks? Can't remember as have not been there for about 13 years. 

 

 I think the photo shows some lighter splodges where the pub on the A5 would roughly be, so the question is, if it is Norton junction when were those houses built.

[magnetman]

House might be from the 40s. If the original photo was 1930s and the pictures shown on the CRT archive are 50s or 60s (the cars are a clue). 

 

 

It could be a post war house related to nationalisation. There is a CRT yard there which would lend credence to that theory. 

 

It does not look like an old canal house at all the architecture is all wrong. 

 

 

That would add up. 

 

But they think it is below Audlem so it probably is. 

Edited January 19, 2023 by magnetman

[magnetman]

 

 

 

Building erected between 1900 and 1914? 

 

It looks arts and crafts so that would add up. 

[Heartland]

I believe Chris Jones has the correct interpretation

Edwin Shearing took this image in 1973 when the telegraph poles had gone!