A return to beautiful Tyrley Locks

27th June 2023.

27th June 2023.

Tyrley Lock Number 1 on the Shropshire Union Canal, 27th June 2023 (Author’s Collection)

Last Summer was my one and only visit to the five locks of Tyrley as I walked, over a period of weeks and multiple separate visits, over two thirds of the 66 miles that make up the Shropshire Union Canal. I also walked those two thirds twice, (once spectacularly in the wrong direction even though I was often incredibly keen to reinforce to anyone who would listen that you couldn’t walk the wrong way on the canal systems!) and when factoring in return journeys and repeated visits to the ports of call nearest to me, I must have racked up near on 100 miles last Summer on the Shropshire Union Canal alone, let alone the handful of miles I walked along the Montgomery Canal, and of course an easy 50+ combined miles of the Llangollen Canal and another spectacularly off course, mis-directed walk that ended with my hitch-hiking aboard a canal boat. That day my friends, was one for the ages.

So it was high time I returned to Tyrley Locks and I hope you’ll enjoy this pictorial stroll and representation of an overcast and supposedly Summer’s afternoon of Tuesday 27th June 2023.

We’ll return to the beautiful Lock Keeper’s Cottage and the “Top Lock” at Tyrley at the end of our pictorial stroll but first, please welcome a passer-by through the lock and beneath “Tyrley Road Bridge” as she heads in the direction of our walk.

Please say hello to “Saoirse” (and a shy lady captain!) as we see Lock Number 2 in Tyrley in full working order.

From the bottom of Lock Number 2 to Number 3 straight ahead.

A moody approach to Lock Number 4!

View from the top of Lock Number 4 with the fifth and final Lock just visible in the near distance.

Approaching Tyrley Lock Number 5.

Life on the canal — Part 1.

Life on the canal — Part 2.

Life on the canal — Part 3.

Beautiful return view from Bridge Number 60 of the Shropshire Union Canal or more simply “Tyrley Road Bridge” and Lock Number 2 clearly visible in the near distance. A simple but beautiful view!

View from “Tyrley Road Bridge” heading south toward Norbury Junction, Gnosall, Wheaton Aston before ultimately Autherley Junction, whereby the canal merges with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

Tyrley Lock Number 1 or “Top Lock” with its accompanying Lock Keepers Cottage, a Grade II listed building.

The Lock Keepers Cottage of Tyrley Locks.

Beautiful Tyrley Locks. Thanks for the memories.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to visit my “UK Travel” library here or alternatively, here are my three most recently published articles from this Summer of 2023:

A return to the Shropshire Union Canal
27th June 2023.medium.com

Picturesque Penkridge
27th June 2023.medium.com

A morning return to Wheaton Aston
Shropshire Union Canal, Friday 23rd June 2023.medium.com