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Saturday 22 August 2015

No locks but smallpoxs!

We had a lazy start this morning as we weren't going very far at all. It was already very warm by 0800 though. We were just moving a little over 2 miles to Catherine de Barnes so just soaked up the quiet of the canal. We have seen very few other boats for the last few days. We did meet the two day boats from Copt Heath Wharf on the start of a very warm day for them.

The short stretch of the canal that we covered today was surprisingly rural and the trees were particularly nice. The tow path bank is largely concrete edged that was done when the canal was enlarged in 1930's.

There were a few fishermen out today. I managed to get in one's good books as his float had come adrfift and I was able to push it back towards him so he could pick it up in his keep net. He should get better with his knot tying I reckon. We were also passed by some high speed kayaks zooming towards Knowle. It is surprising how much of a wash they cause.

This is the view towards Catherine de Barnes from our moorings. We stopped a little short of the visitor moorings to be further away from the busy road and as we had a good view for the solar panels. By now it was very muggy and over 30C. There is a canoe club near the visitor moorings and they had many trips out on the canal. A very nice day for it too.

We went for a walk to post a letter and there is a little Spar near to the bridge. The road is very busy though so care should be used when crossing. Once we were back Helen got her chair and book out and I went for a walk to pick some blackberries. I have an idea to make some blackberry squash.

We have had a couple of very short sharp showers and a rumble of thunder but it hasn't cooled down at all. When we were in the 'village' I noticed that there were posters for things happening in Catney. It seems that the locals call Catherine de Barnes Catney! I can see why I suppose. The name Catherine de Barnes is supposed to derive from the lord who was given the land after the Norman Conquest, one Ketelberne! How ever there wasn't much of anything in this place until the building of the Canal.

Mind you they do have the distinction of the last known person to die of smallpox dying here. In 1907 an isolation hospital was built to house those from the area that contacted smallpox, typhoid and diphtheria. It was opened in 1910 and consisted of a main block with one bed wards and several bungalows that housed ten staff and 16 patients. In 1950's it was converted to a maternity hospital. When a new maternity hospital was opened at Solihull hospital it was designated as UK's National Isolation hospital and from 1966 was kept on permanent standby. For over ten years the hospital was on one hours notice to house infected patients. It was permanently manned by only two sisters. Everybody coming on to the site had to take full precautions. Janet Parker was the last known victim of smallpox and after she died the room was sealed for 5 years. Her Father was the second last person to die in the hospital but that was of a heart attack whilst visiting her. No post-mortum was carried out due to the fear of contagion. Once small pox had been eradicated and other diseases where less prevalent the cost of keeping it open where prohibitive. In 1985 there were plans to burn it down to ensure that all was safe. However after fumigation the site was sold in 1987 and this year you can get a 5 bed detached bungalow on the site for £700,000!

Isolation Hospital, Catherine de Barnes.

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