Monday 10 June 2013

Shugborough Hall

Only a few hundred yards from our mooring at Great Haywood, is the National Trust property Shugborough Hall, access to the house and park is via the old Essex Bridge. From the bridge you can see the rivers Sow and Trent meet, the crystal clear water can be heard babbling along the stony bed.
The present house dates back to around 1693 and has been altered and added to over time. The old village of Shugborough was bought by the Anson family and demolished to give them more privacy, ( the poor darlings ) The house was left to the National Trust in the 1960s who leased it to Staffordshire council who manage the whole estate. It is a pleasant area to walk or cycle around, there is a charge of £ 15.00 pp to get into the house and gardens proper, so our pictures are from the free zone!



Seen from the old Essex bridge, the rivers meet.


Essex bridge, build in 1550 as a pack horse bridge by the Earl of Essex.


And seen from the river bank.


Shugborough Hall.


Not a bad council house eh ! put us on the council waiting list please.


Great Haywood


On the other side of the canal is the village of Great Haywood it's part of the Shugborough conservation area, quite a busy road runs through the village, but it is well looked after by the residents, who obviously take a pride in their community.


Well kept terrace of cottages, on the main road.


Old and well tended grave yard.


Every village should have one!


Still a long way to go, Rugeley next it would appear.

Plans don't always work when you have a limited knowledge of what is ahead, ours was to top up water at Rugeley then find a spot in the sticks to moor up for a couple of days, but for one reason or another we have moored at Fradley junction, this is where we turn off the T & M and join the Coventry canal, and much further along than we expected, so, what's it matter?  not a bit, we are near a shop, cafe, and pub, and it looks ok too.

Bye for now
Baz and Ali


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