Meaford Locks and another closed pub, only this is an historically important one.

How about that for a garden water feature? Perhaps a moored boat would improve it?
The Meaford Locks are the only locks before Stone,

The four locks in the flight are replacements for the original three lock staircase. In 1831 the canal here was straightened and the staircase done away with. I can only assume that the staircase had, as is usually the case, become a bottleneck but I am unable to discover details.

The old line of the canal is still visible by the top lock of the flight.
Stone has an important place in canal history, The Crown Hotel was where the investors met to plan the Grand Trunk Canal, now known as the Trent & Mersey.

Unfortunately it is now closed and although it has been purchased by a hotel company and is scheduled to re-open in the near future there doesn't appear to be any refurbishment taking place.

However the High Street still bustles and there are not too many empty shops, there is also a convenient Morrisons to stock up the larder. They really do good fresh fish, we have a large fillet of smoked haddock in the fridge awaiting our attentions at breakfast tomorrow.
When we move on.

Watch this space.............