….was only borrowed and catalogued in 1982 by Audrey Eyton; for today we discovered that it was know to the Norman and Plantagenet nobility. A short history lesson now follows: Conisbrough castle near Doncaster was built mainly between 1163 and 1202 by the Fifth Earl Warenne, one Hamelin Plantagenet who was the half brother of Henry the second and the bastard son of Geoffrey d’Anjou (of wine making fame). He built the castle with no less than 17 garderobes or toilets. He also (and probably owing to their existence in such numbers) coined one of the earliest travel slogans – ‘Dover for the Continent; Consibrough for the Incontinent’ – catchy isn’t it. Here endeth the lesson.
Again the bus passes were used, for the journey to, and return from Conisbrough.
The castle has a cylindrical keep, the only one in England, which has been very well restored by English Heritage who have put in three floors, a new roof and minor repairs to the original stone staircases. Access is possible to all floors and the roof, from where the views are impressive. Myra was last here some 50 years ago, and wanted to revisit, I was pleased that she did, it is an interesting castle. On our return to Martlet, we had lunch and then cast off, soon entering the black hole under the east coast main railway line bridges to enter the enormous automated Doncaster lock. Leaving the lock, on entering the river navigation we noted that the stream board was in the amber and there was a noticeable flow on passing the main weir, west of the prison. I was sad to see part of 'the plant' as Doncaster railway works was known locally, being demolished. In its heyday, thousands were employed there making some of the best known steam locomotives to designs by Partick Stirling, Sir Nigel Gresley and Arthur Peppercorn; possibly the most famous being A3 4-6-2 LNER no.4472 (BR 60103)'Flying Scotsman'.
Pressing on towards Sprotbrough, the dark clouds were approaching and passing under the high bridge carrying the A1(M) Doncaster bypass, it was getting very dark. Myra went to operate Sprotbrough lock just as the heavens opened. Locking up, and opening the upper gates, the river was covered from bank to bank with some diesel or oil. Passing under the road bridge, the oil was still all over the surface at the moorings and the smell was quite strong. A rapid executive decision was reached and we retraced our steps to the lock in order to return to Doncaster. Our reasoning: if the level was on orange, with more heavy rain forecast, we were better off on the canal than being stuck at Sprotbrough with the entire river covered in diesel. With the stream, we reached Doncaster lock in 25 minutes, it had taken 55 in the opposite direction!
The 2008 journey thus far: 76 Locks & 189 Miles & 10 Swing Bridges
