A rolling stone on the Trent and Mersey Canal

Tuesday 13th June 2023.

Tuesday 13th June 2023.

Welcome to Stone! Tuesday 13th June 2023 (Author’s Collection).

Welcome to the tiny yet picturesque market town of Stone in Staffordshire which, according to local and recorded lore, is the birthplace and a key hub point of the Trent and Mersey Canal and rich in history from the Bronze Age onward and through the Industrial Revolution of the 18th Century. The town of Stone is also notable for its historic transport links through the central belt of England as well as a famed brewing industry and bookending the famous people born in this town we have James Brindley (1716–1772), Surveyor General of the Trent and Mersey Canal and Stan Collymore (born 1971), England, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool footballer.

Twinned with the town of Bagnacavallo in Italy, Stone is now primarily known as a canal town and taken from www.en.wikipedia.org the canal is noted as thus:

“The River Trent, which runs through the town, had been used for cargo-carrying vessels since Roman times but further inland smaller boats could only be used. Seasonal fluctuations in water depth proved insurmountable, although cargo could be carried from the sea as far south as Wilden Ferry (southeast of Derby), where the River Derwent joins the Trent and increases the quantity of water, then onwards by road. Prior to tarmac roads, journeys overland by roads were slow and delicate wares were prone to breakages over the rough terrain.

James Brindley, the canal builder, put forward the scheme to build what he called the Grand Trunk Canal to connect the two rivers, Mersey and Trent in 1766. It was backed by Josiah Wedgwood who saw that it offered an efficient way to bring raw materials to the potteries and to transport finished wares to his customers.

By 29 September 1772 (Brindley died on 27 September), 48 miles of the Grand Trunk Canal (now known as the Trent and Mersey Canal) from Wilden Ferry to Stone was navigable — the length past Burton-on-Trent being completed in 1770.

On completion of the Star Lock a grand opening was held, and during this opening a cannon was fired in celebration. However disaster struck and the cannon damaged the new lock, requiring a re-build”.

This article can be viewed as somewhat of a “sister” piece to the first of my articles linked at the denouement at the bottom of the page and an article entitled “Nutbush City Limits on the Trent and Mersey Canal” as all of the images contained both here and within that article were captured on the same day, Tuesday 13th June 2023.

But Stone deserves a love all of her own, and I’ll leave you to this pictorial stroll through the heart of her town, adding just a colour commentary as we go.

I hope you enjoy.

Welcome to Stone! New modern living has been added to the canal side and (out of shot to the left due to reconstruction works) you’ll find both the “Stafford Road Bridge” and “Star Lock”, the first of four canal locks throughout the town.

“The Story of the Canal” — Part 1 (of 2).

View from the canal with Preston Brook to the north/north west and the canal heading south east ultimately to Shardlow where the Trent and Mersey and Staffordshire and Worcestershire canals merge.

Reverse view of the “Star Lock” and “The Star” public house in central Stone.

“The Story of the Canal” — Part 2 (of 2).

Return view from Bridge 94 of the Trent and Mersey Canal or “Hospital Bridge”.

Forward view of “Yard Lock” with the beginning of the Marina/Wharf at Stone to your right — Part 1.

Forward view of “Yard Lock” with the beginning of the Marina/Wharf at Stone to your right — Part 2.

Return view after passing the Marina/Wharf and just because this particular swan was playing ball when I was clicking away!

Approaching “Newcastle Road Lock”.

Please say hello to “Kingfisher” and a return view of the majority of the canal walked hence far.

Please say hello to “The Mutley Crew” as we continue our return walk and approach “Newcastle Road Lock” once more.

“Juliana” approaching “Newcastle Road Lock”.

Perfect representation of the famed industry that hugs this part of the Trent and Mersey Canal.

Approaching “Yard Lock” for the final time with St Michael’s Church just visible to the left of the tree in the centre.

Shardlow to the south east and Preston Brook to the north west, and the end/beginning of the Trent and Mersey Canal.

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:

Nutbush City Limits on the Trent and Mersey Canal
Tuesday 13th June 2023.medium.com

Sunday in Market Drayton beneath thundery Summer skies
Sunday 11th June, 2023.medium.com

Salvador Dali in the sunshine of Shrewsbury
10th June 2023.medium.com