Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Northbridge Tavern. A large drain discharges through the bridge abutment, dark but large
enough for a small boat to enter.
Canal Carriers Wharves follow to the A5131 St Margaret's Way, which leads to St Mar-
garet's church, a 13-15th century building with a notable Perpendicular tower and chancel.
Abbey Park, with its miniature railway and boating lake, is an important green area in the
city and one of England's most beautiful, opened in 1882 on what had been a marsh. It has a
statue of Cardinal Wolsey, who died in the city in 1530. Towards its eastern end is the Bel-
grave Gate Wharf arm above Limekiln Lock and there is another arm between the lock and
the next road. Again, many coconuts may be found in the canal. The number of alphabets in
use on the local college's welcome board are a reflection of Leicester's large Asian popula-
tion. Local sons include Engelbert Humperdinck.
In the opposite direction the road leads to the National Space Science Centre, rising like a
large silver inflatable structure rather than the streamlined tower that might be expected and
including a Soyuz spacecraft. The Museum of Science & Technology in the Abbey Pumping
Station features canal models, four working beam engines and a history of the development
of transport and power in the hosiery industry.
Further locks come at Birstall and at Thurmaston, site of a large Anglo-Saxon pagan
cemetery, before the river leaves. The canal enters Watermead Country Park, an area of dig-
ging from which gravel was extracted and carried by canal to Syston until the 1980s. In the
park is a large plastic mammoth, recalling that the remains of a real one were excavated here.
The Hope & Anchor public house proves popular with everyone, before the A46. The canal
joins the River Wreake, at one time the Melton Mowbray Navigation and currently being re-
stored, which it follows back through Junction Lock to the River Soar at Cossington Lock.
This detour was required in order that the canal should not be visible from Wanlip Hall. The
16th century corn and paper mill at Cossington Lock is now a restaurant. Once again, the
navigation has to cross the river above a weir to reach the lock cut.
