On the way out of Middlewich we had to go through Wardle Lock which is the home of a lovely lady called Maureen - a boat women born and bred. She has just had her 74th birthday and whilst helping us with the lock told us lots of stories of the old days. She was born on a horse boat and worked them with her parents and then with her husband. Her brother was born on a Thomas Clayton classic boat called Gifford. Just as we were leaving the lock she handed us two hand painted book marks. She still does talks on canal life as was a joy to speak to.
We passed this old canal company stable block which has now been converted to houses on the Shropshire Union- Middlewich branch 
We saw this boat adapted at the Anderton Marina for pump out service