
The 2013 Etruria Canals Festival – the 20th in the series – held on 1-2 June at the junction of the Trent & Mersey and Caldon canals in Stoke-on-Trent had two days of glorious sunshine, unlike the damp conditions of last year’s Diamond Jubilee weekend.
Nearly 7,000 visitors enjoyed the good weather and the colourful sights and sounds of historic narrowboats from many different waterways, with dancers and music alongside local crafts, food and stands; including campaigning displays from the local Inland Waterways Association branch, the Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust and the Canal & River Trust.
It was notable for the number of historic narrowboats visiting from all over the region. The 16 were Alton, Badger, Brighton, Buckden, Darley, Dove, Elizabeth, Ibex, Keppel, Lindsay, Marcellus, Nuneaton, Owl, Saturn, Sweden and Thea. Some 15 other boats were moored along the Trent & Mersey summit level, as well as the hotel pair, Rose & Karnataka.
The beer was even delivered by narrowboat from The Holy Inadequate, Stoke’s Pub of the Year, further up the cut by Festival Park, providing a special attraction for real-ale enthusiasts with over ten different brews to choose from.
A historic boat parade was held on the Saturday, with boats heading towards Burslem, and a ‘Strictly Come Winding’ competition – to turn a full-length boat in the small basin at the start of the Caldon Canal – caused great amusement. The judge’s points, awarded for skill and panache, were greeted with clapping and boos by the spectators.
One of the aims of the event was to campaign for the full reopening of the Etruria Canal Museum and the future of the historic boats Lindsay & Keppel which are based there. The museum building was open for the weekend and its main attraction the Shirley’s Bone Mill engine in steam
Andrew Watts, one of the event organisers, said – “It is great to see the weather and the crowds back at Etruria for another fantastic canals festival. Everyone has had a wonderful time and more people have discovered the waterways and their heritage of this canal centre of the Potteries.”
Thanks to Harry Arnold and Waterway Images for this report and photos.