Beautiful Gnosall in the Spring sunshine

“These are a few of my favourite things”.

“These are a few of my favourite things”.

Welcome to Gnosall on the Shropshire Union Canal, 20th April 2023 (Author’s Collection).

A sister article to yesterday’s sunshine filled communiqué from nearby Norbury Junction, first please allow me to thank you all for the kind comments so many of you have left on that article and I’m sincerely pleased it touched so many and from far flung places across our world from Scotland to Canada, my own country of England and other places not specified in your profiles. Thank you all.

Whereas I happily stumbled upon Norbury Junction nearly two decades ago, I only had the “happy accident” of coming across beautiful Gnosall on the Shropshire Union Canal less than a decade ago but return whenever inspiration hits me or the benevolent Fire God of the Sky is raining down its incredible rays. Located 3 miles from Norbury Junction, I simply can’t recommend the canal side stroll between these two locations enough as it’s a fairly straight amble along the canal as you pass on the outskirts of countryside villages such as Oulton and Cotonwood passing just three canal bridges in the process and, should you be a drinker and wishing to partake of some alcoholic refreshment, you have the starting point of The Junction Inn at Norbury Junction as well as a choice of two in Gnosall, The Navigation Inn or, as you’re about to discover, the beautifully appointed The Boat Inn. The stroll between these two pubs or public houses in Gnosall is a simple and straight forward half-mile round trip and as you’re about to discover too, it was fairly busy yesterday for such a small stretch of canal, but first:

A little background on Gnosall?

According to the 2021 census, the canal side village of Gnosall has a population of just 5,040 and the village itself lies on the busy A518 approximately half-way between the towns of Newport (in Shropshire) and the county town of Stafford (in Staffordshire). Gnosall Heath lies immediately south-west of the main village joined by Station Road and separated by Doley Brook. Other nearby villages include Woodseaves, Knightley, Cowley, Ranton, Church Eaton and Haughton.

The following is taken directly from the second website linked below and makes for interesting reading to say the least!

“The navigators were skilled men, well paid according to the standards of the time, so that there must have been a great deal of extra money circulating in the area. They were great drinkers, so it is not surprising that several beerhouses were opened in addition to the eight public houses in Gnosall — the Navigation listed in the 1834 Directory. But they were, it seems, not so riotous and violent as many had feared. Gnosall had awaited their coming with some alarm. The manorial court had appointed 5 assistant constables (unpaid of course) in 1829. But in 1830 the number was reduced to 2, and afterwards even these were found to be unnecessary. When the canal was completed, it would seem, the great majority of the navigators departed, and some of the younger men may well have married local girls and taken them away, for the figures for Gnosall for 1841 show a decline of 250 from the 1821 census”

“But they were, it seems, not so riotous and violent as many had feared”.

What a sentence that is!

Gnosall Parish Council
Gnosall Parish Council in Staffordshire, UK exist to improve the quality of life for those who live and work in the…www.gnosallparishcouncil.org.uk

Shropshire Union Canal
In 1776 the Trent and Mersey the canal was opened, with links to Birmingham Canal, Coventry and the Black Country and…www.gnosallhistory.co.uk

A dozen images follow, all captured by me on this afternoon, 20th April 2023, and I sincerely hope you enjoy this pictorial stroll beside the canal in the sunshine of central England.

View from beneath “Newport Road Bridge” and onward toward Norbury Junction, the subject of yesterday’s article linked below, in 3 picturesque miles of winding canal.

View from beneath “Newport Road Bridge” and onward first to the “Boat Inn Bridge” (just visible if you squint your eyes hard enough!) and onward toward the beautiful villages and towns of High Onn, Brewood and ultimately the start/end of the Shropshire Union Canal at Autherley Junction. All of these walks and so many more are covered within my “UK Travel” library here.

A “Perfect Timing” moment from atop “Newport Road Bridge” — Part 1.

A “Perfect Timing” moment from atop “Newport Road Bridge” — Part 2.

Please say a hearty hello to “Oberon” passing by “The Boat Inn” in another highly pleasing “Perfect Timing” moment.

…and now wish her well as she departs for nearby High Onn and Brewood.

I adore this view from the “Boat Inn Bridge”. The nearby “Newport Road Bridge” is also visible in the distance.

On an afternoon of “Perfect Timing” moments, here’s another, this time from beneath the “Boat Inn Bridge”.

“The Boat Inn”, Gnosall.

A final “Perfect Timing” moment as two boats depart heading south west toward High Onn, Brewood and Autherley Junction.

“O Flower of Scotland, when will we see, your likes again?”

Thanks for the memories Gnosall. Again! I’ll be back. Again!

Thanks for reading. Linked immediately below is the sister article published yesterday as alluded to above, together with two further articles from the over 100 now contained within my “UK Travel” library:

Spring sunshine from Norbury Junction
and a favourite spot on the Shropshire Union Canal.medium.com

A paperback writer in Ironbridge?
“Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?”medium.com

Easter in the sunshine of Shrewsbury
Historic market town springing into bloom.medium.com