INTO THE TRENT VALLEY AND BEYOND

 First stop today is the Bull's Head in Rosliston, now the only pub in the village.

Moving westwards, (Lost? See the map here) we cross the Lichfield to Burton line at Alrewas, admiring the ex LNWR signal box.

Further west we find ourselves in Longdon, sampling the wares of the fine Swan with Two Necks.

Approaching Rugeley, we rest awhile at Rugeley Trent Valley station, seeing the traffic on the West Coast Main Line.

Rugeley Town station is closer to the heart of things. Here it is in pre-grouping days.

London Midland 150012 at Rugeley Town in 2008.

Brererton Sidings signal box is beside Rugeley Town station.

So, let's see what's to be found in Rugeley.

Here's the War Memorial (Harry Pope CC).

Green Bus was based in the town, until taken over by Midland Red (Les Flint).

Key Coaches once ran several services, with ex Midland Scottish buses.

An early Atlantean of Middleton's is seen at the bus station.

Stevensons became the main operator in the 1980s and '90s.

A pub worth visiting in Rugeley is the historic Red Lion, a Banks's house.

We regain the WCML at Colwich.

Nearby, another Red Lion, this time at Little Haywood. For some obscure reason, they fitted out the public bar with turf! Appraently, a cow paid a visit.

To the north is Great Haywood, with its bridge under the WCML.

The Essex Bridge over the River Trent at Great Haywood. The River Sow joins the Trent close by.

Here's a view of Great Haywood village in 1978.

The Trent & Mersey Canal passes through Great Haywood.

There's a junction with the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.

Close by, the West Coast Main Line passes under Shugborough Park.

Climbing out of the Trent Valley, we come across the village of Milford and its heath.

Beside the heath is the Barley Mow pub. It's now owned by Greene King.

Just to the south, the Chetwynd Arms at Brocton.

That seems like a good place to conclude this post. Next time, we'll be in Stafford.

ZOOMING THROUGH ZOUCH (ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH)

Just to the north of Coalville is Whitwick, once home to a colliery.

The LNWR once had a station here.

There's a pub in Whitwick called the Three Horseshoes, but it's better known as Polly's.

To the west is Swannington (one can follow the route here), where we find the Robin Hood.

The Kings Arms at Coleorton was a Hook Norton pub when photographed in 2004. It's now a free house.

Onwards now to Ashby-de-la-Zouch. This is Market Street (Creative Commons License).

The remains of the castle (Creative Commons License).

A postcard of St Helens parish church.

Midland Red ran most of the bus services in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

In 2002, Dunn-Line and MacPhersons provided transport in the town.

Just off the town centre is the Plough.

The White Hart is an old coaching inn.

There's also the Bowling Green, dating back to the 17th Century.

At nearby Woodville was the depot of Viking Coaches, home to two ex West Riding Daimler Fleetlines.

We're now heading towards Swadlincote. Seen in Bretby Cutting, near the town, is car 5 of the Burton & Ashby tramway.

Midland Red was once the dominant operator in Swadlincote.

Many routes were operated by Stevensons in 1994.

Here's Granville Colliery, Swadlincote. 

At nearby Cadley Hill Colliery, steam survived until the 1970s.

There was also a Sentinel diesel.

Church Gresley is just outside Swadlincote. Here, we find the Rising Sun.

The Burton & Ashby tramway had a branch running through Church Gresley and which terminated at Gastle Gresley. Some "special" cars are seen here at the terminus.

And that's where I'll terminate this post. Next time, onwards to the west.