Rothschild Canal Bridge, Halton

Had a bit of a jaunt out and about today starting here;
the Canal Bridge is constructed using Bright Blue painted ironwork complete with the Rothschild monogram picked out in gold paint. It was built to enable carriage access over the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal for Alfred Rothschild who lived at Halton House. He could often be seen driving his carriage pulled by Zebra. The house these days is The Officer's Mess for RAF Halton.

The original purpose of the waterway was to provide a feeder to the main summit of the canal. Shortly after it was started in 1793 it was realised that it could be used to carry boats, but the project was doomed from the start as the canal cut through chalk which is very porous, meaning the canal had to be sealed or puddled with clay. Unfortunately there were many leaks and after many repairs the canal closed in 1904.

It is still closed to this day and is unnavigable, with many stretches completely overgrown.

From here I went to look at Buckland church as it has a very unusual carving set in the wall. There are very few of these to be found in England with most being found in Ireland....I think its probably quite a good thing that there aren't too many about as some people could find them offensive....

Having left Buckland I took a quick drive to Puttenham village & church. Its claim to fame is that it is one of the 51 Thankful Villages in the UK. They are so-called because all the men who went to war in the 1914/18 war returned safely. Another such village close by is Stoke Hammond, near Milton Keynes.

Unfortunately Puttenham church was padlocked, but a very well kept churchyard & a well maintained building.

Called at ASDA on the way back & then on to N& R's to see the builder, but he had gone, so home to unpack & relax.

There are now rumbles of thunder and some rain too..