A Coventry Canal Walk - Red Lane to Hawkesbury Junction

The day started out sunny as I made my way to Red Lane Bridge and this first Canal Walk. The time 10:15am. The previous few day's changeable weather, however, had indicated the advisability of the umbrella in my pocket. The canal map at the bridge indicated three and a quarter miles to Hawkesbury Junction. Clutching my notepad, pen and Argus camera, I descended the steps at the Red Lane Bridge. Always glancing behind me (to look for approaching boats), I made my way north along the canal's towpath. The weather was pleasant so I removed my jacket and carried it over my arm. I looked forward to a pleasant day enjoying the solitude of the canal and the sights and sounds of nature.

Between Red Lane bridge and the next bridge, the Navigation bridge, a long boat approached me from the rear just having passed under the Crabmill Lane bridge.

Approaching the Navigation Bridge, I shot a clump of daffodils (probably not wild but planted) with the bridge in the background with a blue van passing over it.

Just past the Navigation Bridge to my left I spotted a sign of the times, a McDonalds 'restaurant' sign, so I took a shot of the canal with the sign towering over it.

Soon a pile of what looked like massive earthmover tires blighted my view.

Pressing on past this eyesore, I came upon a delightful swan's nest complete with cygnets. Unfortunately I did not have a telephoto lens.

Next came the Old Church Road bridge, where I photographed the fanciful gate and artwork.

I then exited the canal at this gate in search of 150 Proffitt Avenue. This was a nostalgic detour to photograph the former home of someone who emigrated to Canada from Coventry in the 1950's and never returned.

After my successful search, I purchased a snack and a spare film at a nearby local 'supermarket'. I then rejoined the canal walk at the Old Church Road Bridge, but not before I photographed the Royal Hotel pub alongside the bridge.

Just past the Old Church Road bridge, I photographed a factory to the left. Its identity unknown to me.

After passing beyond the bridge, I came across the 'pipework bench'. You can see my blue jacket lying on the far part.

Here, I rested for 15 minutes and drank some Ribena. The time was 1pm. Continuing the walk, I saw one of the many shy moorhens living along the canal, and its nest, and then a mallard duck sitting on a wall. Look closely and you will see it.

Numerous puddles provided an obstacle course and evidence of the previous day's showers. A timber yard came into view on the left. Shortly beyond this, I noticed the unbelievable piles of rubbish at the bottom of some people's gardens.

Next came the New Inn Bridge at Longford Road. A new building was under construction at the far side.

The canal sign at this bridge was missing. Beyond the bridge was waste land to the left and ongoing construction to the right.

Here, I photographed a curious but wary neighbourhood cat. Sorry about the blue plastic bag.

Further along, I photographed the canal curve with the Foleshill gasworks in the distance.

Pressing on, I passed a man fishing with his daughter and asked to take their picture.

About here, I reloaded the film in my camera with the spare roll bought earlier at the supermarket.

Near here I photographed a pretty growth of buttercups, and noted a profusion of yellow furze bushes to my right.

Further along, Judds Lane Bridge approached with a sign indicating one and a quarter miles to go. At this bridge, which turned out to be a footpath bridge, I exited the canal and climbed onto the bridge to take a photo looking back in the direction I had come.

Here there was a sign promising 'access to nature park', whch I unfortunately did not have time to explore. Perhaps next time.

Rejoining the canal footpath, I forged northward. A short distance ahead, I heard the hoot of an unseen owl. Next, on the left came into view the Foleshill gasworks and the remains of its former wharf. Somewhere in this picture is a mallard. Do not spend too long looking for it!

The gas for this factory was obtained from coal delivered via the canal. Further onward, a derelict concrete area appeared on the left which I'm sure has an interesting history if only I knew it. Then came a caravan park on the right. Past this on the left, I encountered some canalside homes.

, and another shot looking back,

Here, I saw a young couple drag an inflatable dinghy from their backyard into the water, and paddle down the canal. What a pleasant prospect. Unfortunately, I failed to take their picture.

Walking further on, I came to the Lady Lane footbridge with a sign indicating three quarters of a mile to go.

Here, I encountered the 'Concrete Sofa' - an interesting artifact but not one I cared to sit on for too long.

The Longford Road bridge was next, still indicating three quarters of a mile to go! Never did the miles seem to pass so slowly.

Just past the bridge, I took another shot of the canal with some canalside homes in the distance to the left.

Further on, I came alongside the canalside homes,

, and looking back,

followed by a straight stretch of canal passing under the M6 motorway - this was the low point of the walk, a feeling that the canal had been straddled by an alien monster.

Then came a rather boring stretch, followed by the Coney Lane Bridge and a sign indicating only a quarter of a mile to go. Joy! A glance at my watch showed it to be 2:20pm.

Sutton Stop soon came into view. First a grassy area to the right with a couple of welcoming benches, the boat docking area to the left,

and a short distance on, Hawkesbury junction itself with the Greyhound pub to the right. An unusual boat was docked in front of the pub.

The junction is the place where the canal splits into two, the left fork heading north, and the right fork heading north east and then curving south eastward to Oxford. Here is the right fork.

Here is the left fork, with some smart new homes being built alongside. You can see in this picture how overcast it is getting.

The old pump engine house is here, which originally supplied the well water to fill the canal.

I was also lucky enough to encounter a boat passing through the lock at the right fork, which I duly photographed from a bridge overlooking the lock.

At 2:45pm, drizzle drops on my head indicated the necessity of me not tarrying any longer at Hawkesbury Junction, so packing away my camera, donning my jacket, and unfolding my umbrella, I set off back to Red Lane at a fair pace, taking no more photographs. After an hour and five minutes of dodging muddy puddles, my weary legs carried me back up the steps of the Red Lane Bridge and back home to a soft armchair and oblivion.

POSTSCRIPT

This walk would have been more enjoyable if there was a car waiting at Hawkesbury Junction to give me a ride home instead of having to retrace my footsteps and walk back. Unfortunately, I did not have that luxury. Looking at a Coventry bus map, I could have exited at the Black Horse Lane bridge and caught a bus nearby.

All photos were taken with a 1950's Argus model 21 camera and 50mm lens, ably assisted by my Gossen Pilot 2 exposure meter.

Unfortunately evident thoughout the walk were defaced or missing signs, graffiti and litter. The many beer cans and their locations indicated their likely source as being thrown from boats. Also, many people evidently think the canalside is a convenient bathroom for their dogs.

Please forgive any inaccuracies or misstatements, the above was transcribed from scribbled handwritten notes, many days after the walk. Feel free to email corrections or additional information.

Please now go to Canal Walk II.

GLOSSARY

Coventry - the 10th largest city in Britain

Canal - can be thought of as a road for boats. The Coventry canal was built in 1769. Since canals predated motorized transport, all canal boats were originally pulled by horses.

Boat Basin - a place for canal boats to dock, usually has shops and perhaps a pub

Pub - short for public house - a British institution serving alcoholic beverages and increasingly nowadays food.

Ribena - a refreshing British soft drink based on blackcurrant juice.