Foxton Locks Nr. Market Harborough

ALL ROUND GOOD GUY

Today myself & Becky picked up our friends Brenda & Brian, as we decided to have a trip out to Foxton Locks, which is part of the Grand Union Canal. http://www.goleicestershire.com/outdoors/foxton.aspx To get to it, just off the old A6 Leicester road out of Market Harborough, you have to go past Gartree Prison, which was a Category A prison, housing some bad guys in there at the time. The Prison had an infamous escape of 2 inmates by helicopter in 1987, which you can read about in this Wikipedia thread. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Prison_Gartree
Anyway, we turned into the Locks main car park & parked up the car. £2 to park for 4 hours wasn't too bad we thought, but just as I was about to buy a ticket, a guy came up to me & gave me a ticket that lasted until 15.45, so that was a "Brucie Bonus".
This information sign was leading from the car park to the Locks.

A view of the canal as we walked over the bridge to the Foxton Locks Pub. http://restaurantfoxtonlocks.co.uk/

On the opposite side of the bridge is a private mooring area.

The 3 "B's", Becky, Brenda & Brian shouting at me hurry up & take that photo Mick we need a drink.

From this information sign, I thought of Squeeze for some reason.

A view looking up to the top of the 10 locks that get you up or down the canal.

This view is looking towards the Bottom Lock, with the Bridge 61 cafe & the Leicester & Market Harborough junction of the canal in the background.

This is a view in the direction of the Top Lock, & the old stables.

Looking down the Locks.

Becky, posing by one of the water side ponds from one of the locks.

The old Boiler House, which the building was home to the boiler and mechanical workings that powered the Caissons (barge containers) up and down the Inclined Plane.

This is one of the narrow boats going down a lock.

Becky & Brian in deep conversation, with a crowd of people at The Foxton Locks Inn, enjoying a drink, the views & the weather.

You could have a ride in a narrow boat, The Vagabond 11, from Bridge 61. The prices are £4 for adults & £3 for children. http://foxtonboats.co.uk/

The boat heading under a bridge, towards the Leicester direction of the canal.

Joining us on the canal, was a family of swans, aargh.

We were lucky with the weather today, but it would be a totally different experience in bad weather, like anywhere else. I would thoroughly recommend a visit to these Locks, if you are ever in the area weather permitting, as we had a great few hours there.