Grindley Brook “Staircase” Locks, Sunday 10th July 2022 (Author’s Collection).
As a relative newcomer to all things canals and their quixotic and nostalgic ghosts of a bygone age, I was completely unaware of the engineering feats such as a “Staircase” set of Locks, and then like buses or in this case canal boats, two came along one after the other. First was the incredibly pleasing Locks of Hurleston at the commencement to the Llangollen Canal in Cheshire on Friday and two days later and closer to home, the magnificent Locks of Grindley Brook. As with Hurleston Locks at the beginning of the Llangollen Canal that snakes its way along the border between England and Wales, I fell in love with Grindley Brook Locks on a spectacularly sunny Sunday 48 hours later.
The following day I introduced my beautiful teenage son to Grindley Brook Locks and I now have a fantastic picture of my lad with the “Staircase” in the background and an image I’ll treasure forever.
Here follows over 40 images of a “special edition” article featuring just the “Staircase” and accompanying Locks from a beautiful morning in the sun that I hope both floats your pun intended boat as well as translating the real beauty of a throwback to a time that’s almost been forgotten.
Disclaimer
As per my previous articles on the canals in the picturesque UK county in which I live, I don’t claim to have any experience of either a canal boat lifestyle or the inner workings and trials and tribulations of life on a houseboat/canal boat or narrow boat (whichever you prefer). I just find the peace, tranquillity and the quirky nature of an almost bygone way of existence and determination to live your life in this way, and in a floating house too, endlessly fascinating. I also bask and prosper in the sunshine, love the sights and sounds of canal life juxtaposed with the earthy nature and countryside that surrounds it, and simply discovering a new piece of the canal waterways puzzle never fails to raise a smile on my face. Guaranteed (Guaranteed) to receive oodles of smiles and “Hello’s” and “Good Afternoon’s” from the human beings you meet and watching dogs leap into a canal in search of a well thrown stick or ball can’t fail to amuse the child in all of us.
So much for all that.
*All images captured by me today, 10th July 2022*
Do you have your walking boots ready?
Following a relatively short two mile amble along the Llangollen Canal from nearby Whitchurch, we approach Grindley Brook Locks.
A final and gentle bend in the canal as we approach the Lock Keeper’s Cottage beside the first of Grindley Brook’s “Staircase” Locks.
Your rules and regulations for negotiating the Locks safely and far too much responsibility for the likes of me!
Adjacent to the Lock Keepers Cottage (out of shot to your right), the first or Number 1 Lock of Grindley Brook and the beginning of the “Staircase” Locks.
Locks 2 and 3 of the “Staircase”.
Locks 2 and 3 with the canal boat now almost fully lowered before departure.
View from atop Bridge 29 indicating the extent of the drop from Lock Number 1 through to Lock Number 3.
A final and magnificent image of the third Lock in the “Staircase” and the extent of the drop to negotiate under Bridge 29.
View from atop Bridge 29 as we round the bend to two further Locks here at Grindley Brook.
So many reflections. So quintessentially England.
View from between Lock Number 4 with Lock Number 5 in the near distance.
Lock Number 4 at Grindley Brook.
A particular favourite image luckily captured on this sunshine filled Sunday morning.
Between Lock 5 in the distance and passing us on the way to Number 4, another beautiful image captured this morning.
See above comments!
Another looking back toward Lock Number 4 and another shimmering representation of a beautiful morning in the sun of Shropshire.
Lock Number 5 and a strangely pleasingly image of a twisted dead tree. I thought of Tim Burton and headless horsemen. My son countered with Harry Potter. Between us, I think we’re onto something.
Lock 5 at Grindley Brook with the rushing of water from the Lock and the strangely disfigured tree, another favourite image captured this morning.
The final bend onward to the final Lock and Bridge Number 28 or “Grindley Brook Bridge”.
Lock Number 6, as with all the others, was in busy rotation this morning.
View from atop Bridge 28 at Grindley Brook and onward north along the Llangollen Canal to Marbury, Wrenbury, Stoneley Green and ultimately the four Locks of Hurleston as you merge with the Shropshire Union Canal near Nantwich.
A final and beautiful view from atop Bridge 28, Lock Number 6 and a winding trail back from whence we came.
A magnificent “Perfect Timing” moment as we leave the sixth and last/first Lock at Grindley Brook Locks.
Approaching Lock Number 5.
A final view through Bridge 28 and the first/final Lock at Grindley Brook.
Another superb “Perfect Timing” moment with “Grindley Brook Bridge” as a lovely backdrop.
A final and beautiful view from Lock Number 5 and onward to Number 4 and the bend in the canal toward the bottom of the “Staircase” Locks.
Perfect timing as we approach Lock Number 4.
Such a pleasing image and such a pleasing memory from a beautiful morning in the sun.
Lock Number 4 in all its glory!
A final image captured heading north from Lock Number 4.
And a final image from Lock Number 4 and the bend in the canal that leads to the bottom of the “Staircase” Locks.
A departing reminder of the magnificence of these “Staircase” Locks.
A departing image of the Locks in action and the hive of activity that surrounded this small piece of country heaven and another throwback to a bygone age.
Lock Number 1 at Grindley Brook Locks and onward south to the horseshoe type bends of Whitchurch in just over two miles time.
I rather fell in love with this place as you may have noticed.
Thank you Grindley Brook Locks. I will no doubt be back soon.
Your humble narrator, the morning after the morning before, 11th July 2022.
Thanks for reading. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual stroll along a canal in the central beating heart of England and if so, please also consider these other recently published editions within this continuing series of articles:
