Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Another walk in the park….

A different park, and a definite walk, this time! Before we pulled pins this morning Meg and I had a goodbye walk around Marbury Country Park.

Looking back from Marbury footbridgeSAM_0006

We headed off through the woods alongside the canal, Meg having a good look around for squirrels.

You can see why this area is so popular for dog walkers…SAM_0009 Marbury Wood

SAM_0011 Marbury Wood

The track through the woods takes you to the edge of Budworth Mere.

Looking out over the mere.pano

The tower on the skyline to the right belongs to the impressive Great Budworth Church of St Mary's and All Saints.

Great Budworth across the mere.SAM_0018 Grt Budworth
The church dates from the 14c, with improvements in the 15th and 16th centuries.
 
Marbury Country Park used to be the estate and grounds of Marbury Hall. The hall itself was demolished in 1968, but the grounds have been taken over by the local authority and are open to the public.
There had been several houses on the site, the earliest dating from the 13c. The latest incarnation dated from the early 18c, and was the family seat of the Marbury, Barry and Smith-Barry families until it was sold to be used as a country club in 1932.
During WWII it was requisitioned by the War Department and became a POW camp. ICI then bought it and used it as dormitory accommodation for Polish workers, until it deteriorated.

Marbury Hall circa 1898Marbury HallPicture from  England’s Lost Country Houses - http://lh.matthewbeckett.com/houses/lh_cheshire_marburyhall_info_gallery.html

A stone platform with steps leading up are all that remains of the hall…SAM_0022 Marbury

Out of the woods, onto the parkland around the hall.SAM_0024 Marbury

A stroll across open pasture, vacant at the moment, takes us back to Marbury Lane Bridge.

Cattle will often be grazing here later in the year.SAM_0028 Marbury

Last chance to find a squirrel before we get back to the boat.SAM_0030 Marbury

We pulled pins at around 11:00, with no particular rush as we weren’t going so far.

Lots of lambs in the fields….SAM_0037 Lambs

You’d have thought that the farmer would have removed the corpse from the hedge behind, though.

Around the right hand bend at Wincham Turn.SAM_0038 Wincham Turn
The house has no road access, and, I’m told, the short tug-style narrowboat Almond was built with an oil tank under the foredeck, to supply the central heating boiler in the property. What a good idea.

Unusual design, NB Yolanda near Orchard Marina.SAM_0041 UnusualSign-written on the cabin side – “Mercedes-Benz CDi 85hp” With that size of engine she should be good for towing skiers!

The new marina just further along is slowly taking shape.

Half a bridge to nowhere….SAM_0044 New Marina

…..and a glimpse of mooring pontoons taking shape in the basin.SAM_0045 New Marina

We pulled in at south flash, and, after lunch, I set to and sliced up the wood we’ve foraged recently. Hopefully, this will be the last lot this winter.

On our last legs logs!SAM_0046 Logging

Locks 0, miles 4½

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