Changeover Bridge

We were desperate for a change of scene but didn't want to travel far. So 30 minutes from home we started a walk from Froghall Wharf. Despite it being so close we'd never been here or even walked anywhere in the immediate area. (Shame on us.) 

We headed out along the Caldon Canal where we crossed this bridge. So named as it meant a horse towing a narrowboat didn't need to be unhitched as it crossed over the canal. As we left the canal we tried our best to avoid the extremely muddy fields, so had to make a few diversions along quiet lanes. But we still managed a circular route via the villages of Ipstones and Foxt and walked just under 7 miles. 

We even saw a few roe deer on the towpath not far from this bridge.

There's much industrial architecture to explore here as limestone was smelted here and this is where the Caldon Canal starts/ends at the wharf. This is how the limestone, and coal was transported from the nearby Potteries.

The extra image is of a Copper Works built by Thomas Bolton & Sons in 1892.