Wednesday 29 June 2011

Stratford Upon Avon

Today we decided to go and visit the local tourist spot and walked into Wilmcote to visit Mary Arden's House and Farm.


This is where William Shakespeare grew up and was well worth the visit. The buildings date from the 1500’s and there are plenty of ‘working’ exhibits. There was a cookery demonstration in the kitchens, joinery demo’s, candle making and much more.

candle making

A school party was having a day out and all the children were dressed in clothing from the period.  The best part for me were the kitchen and herb gardens and I could just picture myself living there and being self sufficient, although I didn’t fancy the outside toilet!

the outside loo


The outdoor bread oven brought back memories of the indoor pizza oven at The Baths Hotel in Macclesfield where we spent many a happy Thursday evening over the winter.



The locks down to Stratford Upon Avon were quite difficult as the paddle gear is very jerky to wind and the gates swing an awful lot. The worst one of all is just before you reach Bancroft Basin in the town centre. The lock beam is L-shaped and not substantial enough to open or close the gates easily. It took both of us to do it which is not good.


We’re now moored on the river near to Keith and Bronwyn who have the 21st boat we built, called ‘Kotuku’ (after a native New Zealand bird, not the computer game) . It was too late to take my usual photo of the moorings as we were too busy catching up and supping bubbly! Oh it’s a hard life but someone has to do it.

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