Norton Green Walks

Norton Green Village/ local walks

An Historic Water-Link Walk by D Gerrard

A Short Walk in Norton Green, a 45 minute round walk of historic and natural landscapes mainly flat and easy going with one small incline. This short walk should be of interest to nature lovers, ornithologists and those interested in the history of the area. You will be taken on a tranquill trip of the waterways of the village and be given an insight to this once industrial area.

This walk is suitable for all seasons as the footpaths are usually quite clean and dry. The best time to catch a glimpse of the wildlife is early summer mornings or a late summer's eve.

BY CAR
Head for Norton Green/Brown Edge or Endon on the B5051.
On entering the village on the B5051 turn into Ball lane adjacent to a telephone box and brick bus shelter.

PARKING
There is plenty of parking on the first stretch of Ball Lane, but please take care not to obstruct any footpaths or private entrances.

POINTS OF INTEREST

River Trent, Caldon Canal and Norton Green Canal Branch Arm.
Historic Buildings and Industrial Landscape features.
An abundance of Wildlife including Kingfisher, Mink, Heron, Hare, Dragonfly and many breeds of waterfowl.

PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK
The Foaming Quart off Ball lane, where this walk begins and may well end, will always offer a warm welcome to guests to the area.

The historic contents of this walk are only a brief outline of the area, more detailed information can be found on our history pages.

All additional information is in italics

Picture 1 starting point
Foaming Quart - starting point

Let's Walk
Starting from Ball Lane head for the Foaming Quart public House car park which is only about 100 yards from the your entry to Ball Lane [ Picture 1 ]
On entering the car park head for the stile at the rear, once you have passed through the stile you will immediately notice that you have waterways on both sides.

The waterway on your right is the Norton Green Arm of the Caldon canal [ Picture2 ] and was cut in 1779 by the owners of the Cockshead Colliery to allow barges to navigate into the village to serve its business along with the Iron Foundry and surrounding outcroppings.

To your left is the River Trent that cuts its way through the valley and steadily increases in size the further is runs. If you are lucky you might catch a glimpse of a Kingfisher or the ferocious Mink who can be seen hunting the river for small fish and mammals.

Incidentally this field is known as 'Cow Hayes' the word Hayes meaning a piece of land surrounded by hedges or natural barriers, which acted as a corral for the cattle and was usually used for wintering animals.

Continue on the path going through the next stile.

picture 2

After the small rise you will notice that the Canal Branch Arm enters the Main Caldon Canal, this junction in known locally as 'The CutArm'.

picture 3

On this corner there is what remains of an underpass tunnel [ Picture 3 ] that allowed the barges that were pulled by horse to lead their horses from the towpath side of the canal underneath its waters and couple back up to continue their navigation into the village using the branch arm. Sadly this tunnel has now filled with water and is sometimes mistaken for an overflow for the canal.

Continue on your original path and pass through a stile where the River Trent passes under the Canal, before you is 'Heakley Hall.' [ Picture 4 ]

picture 4

You will notice that the Hall is built on what seems to be a natural hill; this is because one of the former Halls was moated. I believe that this site is probably one of the oldest inhabited sites still in use today in the whole valley, as there is correspondence from 1369 ( the reign of Edward 111 ) between Rich de Haykeley, Richard Wylde and Richard de Lylishull held at Birmingham City Archives.

In the past the Hall has always offered much needed employment to the local inhabitants of the valleys, who either worked the land in times of labour intensive farming or were in service at the Hall. The outlaying land around the Hall was also instrumental in helping the growth of the Pottery businesses of the 'Five Towns', by supplying them with the raw materials such as coal, clay and sand which were easily transported with the accessibility of the canal.

On your approach to the Hall, bear right on to the bridge over the canal ( bridge number 22 ).

From the top of the bridge [ Picture 5 ] Heakley marshes can be seen following the toe path in both directions. The marshes are a Grade 1 Natural Heritage site of Biological interest, with the tall grasses and marshy meadows being an important habitat to many species of bird such as the declining snipe.

Once over the bridge turn immediate right through a stile onto the towpath and continue to head back along the direction you came. You will then pass by the 'cut arm' again and then pass by a 'drawbridge or lift bridge'.

picture 5

This part of the canal was used as a port or dock where local businesses would bring their wares to be distributed by the barges that operated locally.
The famous Methodist Minister Hugh Bourne used the local barges here to distribute his many religious papers and magazines to London and Manchester etc.

Carry on along the towpath heading for the lock and bridge number 21.

picture 6

On your approach to the lock you will notice a small natural pool to your left.

This pool [ Picture 6 ] is formed from excess water from the mine shafts from Bellerton Pit. For the bird watcher this gives an excellent opportunity to study a good variety of waterfowl.

The Lock is known as 'Engine Lock' and was renamed after the giant steam engines of 'The Cockshead Coal Company' that stood on the opposite banks of the canal and pumped water from their shafts into the canal.

The original name of the lock was 'Cockshut Lock' as this area was known as 'Cockshut Green'.

There was also a wharf here where the Narrow boats or Barge's were repaired.

As you approach the lock take the stile to your left just before the bridge.

picture 7

You will also notice here that there is a small hill facing you as you pass through the stile. [ Picture 7 ] This hill is the remains of a lime kiln that was used for the process of extracting the lime from the raw Limestone of Caldon Lowe. It was most probably used by local farmers who used the lime to spread on their fields.

After passing through the stile pass over the bridge and bare right and head for the stile at the corner of the lock. (Do not continue on the track) Continue through this field passing through one more stile and head for the stile in the middle of the field boundary. Keep the 'Old Cockshead Mill' to your Right.

picture 8

The mill was used for grinding Flint for the pottery businesses of 'The Five Towns'.
[ Picture 8 ] Prior to this, this building was used for an Inn. The workers of the 'Cockshead Coal Company ' were most probably paid at this Inn, as was the custom at this time as the owners of the Collieries usually owned the Inns and Beerhouses and therefore recouped some of the wages they paid out to the colliers who would spend most of their wage on beer. This practice was later made illegal by an act of Government. After passing through this stile turn right heading to the back of the Mill. This field is called 'Upper Delph Field', Delph being an old name for Pit or Mine and is a reference to the mining activities of the Monks of Abbey Hulton who were one of the first recorded to extract coal from this area.

Pass through two more stiles and you will enter into an open field leading onto the Canal again. [ Picture 9 ] Immediately after passing through this stile to your left is what looks like a drainage ditch

picture 9
Mill Race

This is what is left of the' Mill Race' to the Mill and was fed from a small spring some 2 miles away near to Knypersley Reservoir. Before you there are two large cottages [ Picture 10 ] these cottages were the former offices of 'The Cockshead Coal Company'.

picture 10
Cockshead Cottages - Norton Green

Follow the Mill Race which will eventually lead you onto the Tarmac road. Follow the road heading back into the village. You will pass by two cottages on your left with a lane to the rear [ Picture11 ]. The lane is known as 'The Back Lane' and is an old occupation road leading from Norton to the Canal. The cottages are known as 'Limekiln Cottages' and were named after a large limekiln that stood opposite and belonged to the 'Cockshead Coal Company'.

picture 11
Back Lane - Norton Green

Continue on the road and pass through the gate with an adjacent cattle grid.
You are now in ' Foundry Square ' Foundry Square was named after Copes Iron Foundry that was situated to the rear of the properties here. The Foundry also supplied ironwork for the ' Menai Suspension Bridge '.

Still standing in the Square is ' Foundry House ' which was the Foundry manager's house. There is also a small row of cottages here known as ' Yellow Row ' that was built by the Cope Family.

Continue on back to ' Ball Lane '.
End of walk

Foaming Quart
Foaming Quart Norton Green Village 2007

" Thirsty work this walking, why not refresh yourselves with a cooling drink at the Foaming Quart before you head off home ".

Back to Top