Our narrowboat journey continued from Tixall Wide, taking us through Stafford, Acton Trussell, Penkridge and Coven before we moved onto the Shropshire Union Canal — affectionately known by boaters as the Shroppie.
Along the way, we enjoyed time with friends, discovered fantastic markets and bakeries, visited historic buildings, took Roland on his first bus journey and found a village that might just have the exact village vibe I love.
Friends, Wine and Boating Stories at Tixall Wide
We continued our stay at Tixall Wide for a couple more days, and our friends Geoff and Pamela joined us on their boat, Merrow Song.
We spent a couple of lovely evenings sitting together on the towpath, sharing wine, boating stories and tales of our lives — including our move back to the UK from the United States.
This is one of the things we love most about life on the canals. You never quite know who you will meet, and before long, complete strangers can become good friends, sharing stories and experiences over a glass of wine beside the water.
Leaving Tixall Wide and a Very Important Message
On Friday, 10 July, it was time for us to move on.
We winded at Tixall Wide, filled up with water, emptied the rubbish and completed all the usual boating chores before heading back through the Wide.
We waved goodbye to The Grockles and continued towards Stafford, eventually mooring near Bridge 100.
It was here that we met a lovely young girl called Kasia and her dad.
Kasia had been learning at school about pollution in the sea and had created a poster to raise awareness. She wanted to share her message on the canal, so we were very happy to put it up on AndAway.
And her message is one we completely agree with:
Please — no rubbish in our canals!
The UK’s canals are such an important part of our countryside and communities, and keeping them clean is something we all need to take responsibility for.
Exploring Stafford
Over the weekend, we spent time exploring Stafford on foot.
We were really impressed with the town. There was a clear sense of civic pride, with lots of flowers, attractive public spaces, lovely parks and a farmers’ market to explore.
We enjoyed wandering around the town and discovering some of its historic streets and buildings.
While visiting Victoria Park, we also stumbled across Party in the Park. It was clearly aimed more towards children and families, but it was lovely to see the park being used and enjoyed by the local community.
It was one of those unexpected discoveries that make exploring a new town so enjoyable.
Acton Trussell and Historic St James’ Church
On Monday, we moved on to Acton Trussell.
This attractive Staffordshire village has a long history and retains much of its peaceful rural character. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, it is a lovely place to explore on foot.
We took a stroll around the village and visited St James’ Church, a beautiful Grade II listed building.
Parts of the church date back to the 13th century, with later additions and alterations from the 15th and 17th centuries. Like so many of the historic churches we have discovered during our travels, St James’ is full of character and provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of the local area.
From Acton Trussell, we continued cruising towards Penkridge.
Penkridge Market and a Fantastic Cake Shop
While in Penkridge, we had a chat with Ian and Cathy from NB Muddle Puddle.
They told us about a very good cake shop.
Now, anyone who knows us will understand that this information could not simply be ignored!
So, naturally, we paid a visit to Jaspers.
What a find!
Jaspers sells fantastic cakes, bread, sausage rolls and plenty more, all at incredibly good prices. It is exactly the sort of place you hope to discover when travelling around the canals.
So, if you find yourself in Penkridge, make sure you pay Jaspers a visit. You won’t regret it!
Penkridge also has a fantastic market, and I absolutely loved it.
It reminded me so much of the market in Maidstone that my mum used to take me to when I was a child. I have always loved markets, and this one brought back some lovely memories.
Naturally, I also made a few purchases.
And, as I wandered around, I couldn’t help thinking:
“No income tax, no VAT, no money back, no guarantee!” 😄
Our Visit to Moseley Old Hall
From Penkridge, we continued towards Coven and moored near The Anchor pub.
On Saturday, 18 July, we took the bus to Moseley Old Hall.
This was also a very special journey for Roland because it was his first ever bus ride.
And he was absolutely brilliant!
He took everything in his stride, made friends with the other passengers and seemed to enjoy the whole experience. Another new adventure successfully completed by our little travelling companion.
Moseley Old Hall and King Charles II
Moseley Old Hall is a beautiful timber-framed farmhouse with a fascinating connection to King Charles II.
Following the Royalist defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, Charles II was forced to flee for his life. He spent six weeks hiding from Parliamentarian forces while trying to escape the country.
Moseley Old Hall was one of the safe houses used during his escape.
Charles stayed at the Hall for a short time and was hidden in a priest hole while soldiers searched the area. The house is filled with stories of secrecy, escape and royal intrigue, making it a fascinating place to visit. We found it fascinating to think we touched the same door he did , walked on the same floors that he had 375 years earlier !
We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the house and learning more about this dramatic chapter in British history.
And, of course, Roland behaved impeccably.
Cruising onto the Shropshire Union Canal
On Sunday, 19 July, we moved onto a new canal — the Shropshire Union Canal, commonly known by boaters as The Shroppie.
After stopping at Morrisons for a few essentials, we spent the night at Pendeford before continuing towards Brewood.
And what a lovely village Brewood is!
I may have found my village vibe.
Discovering Brewood
Brewood is full of character, with beautiful old cottages, historic buildings and a wonderful village atmosphere. (pronounced Brood!)
We enjoyed wandering around and exploring some of the village’s historic churches and buildings.
We started at St Mary and St Chad’s Church, parts of which date back to the 13th century. Inside are four incredible alabaster tombs belonging to the Giffard family of Chillington. The oldest dates from 1556, and the tombs include wonderfully detailed effigies of the family members — and even the children. It really is a remarkable glimpse into the lives of a powerful local family who remained Catholic through the Reformation and Civil War.
Then we visited St Mary’s Catholic Church, designed by the famous Victorian architect Augustus Welby Pugin and opened in 1844. The church has a fascinating history, including an ancient statue of the Virgin Mary which is said to have survived the destruction of Blackladies Chapel during the Civil War. The statue bears marks said to have been made by a sword and musket ball — and local tradition tells of a mysterious liquid from the wound which was believed to have healing powers.
And then there was Speedwell Castle — an unusual and distinctive historic building that adds even more character to the village. A beautiful and rather unexpected Grade I listed 18th-century house right in the heart of the village. It was supposedly built by William Rock from the winnings of his racehorse, Speedwell!
Brewood is exactly the sort of place I love discovering while travelling around the UK.
Beautiful old buildings, fascinating history and plenty of places to simply wander and explore.
And, yes, it is definitely pronounced Brood! (or Brewed seeing as there are 4 pubs in close proximity)
Our Current Mooring
And so, this is where we leave you for this section of our journey.
We are currently sitting just below Wheaton Aston, near The Hartley Arms, where we enjoyed lunch yesterday.
The food was very good, and after all the walking, exploring and cruising, it was the perfect place to stop and enjoy a meal.
For now, AndAway is moored, the countryside is looking beautiful and we are continuing our journey along the Shroppie.
Until next time…
Rolo’s Blog 🐾
Favourite snoozing spot this week: The top of the boat — obviously! 😴
Number of locks conquered: 13 🚢
New friends: Ducks 🦆 — still not entirely sure about the swans 🦢
Training achievement: Greeting new dogs calmly — we’re getting there!
Treat rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Another week, another adventure, another collection of new smells, new places and new people to charm.
And, as usual, Rolo has decided that the boat belongs to him.
As always you can view everything on our youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/@nbandaway
Dont forget the Merch Store !
If you would like to support us , you can now buy us a gallon of diesel or a glass of wine !!!
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