Blisworth Canal Festival 2014

 August 9th and 10th

It is a pleasure to report that "Festival 2014" was an impressive success at least for one day.

The scope of the festival was larger than last year's.  Last year's festival was so good that it is a little difficult to highlight the success of this festival without repetition. The main organisers were again Jan and Alan Andrews with many helpers both throughout the preceding year and on the actual days.

A considerable number of new items were located on the Festival Field by Candle Bridge. Also, there were the usual pony rides on Blisworth House lawn and the usual collection of classic vehicles kept by the Perrett family. Some highlights are photographed separately below while there is a melody of images which serve to express the wealth of boats and stalls offering antiques, bric-e-brac, books and confections of all sorts. At the Wharf, the Royal Oak, the Village Hall, the Chapel and the Church there was food laid on.

The weather was absolutely brilliant on the Saturday but was, thanks mainly to the remnants of Hurricane Bertha, a virtually complete wash out on the Sunday - it rained heavily until about 11 o'clock and started up again in a discouraging way at 12.30. Eventually, at about 2.30pm the sun came out for an hour or so but most people had given up and some of the stalls had packed up and departed. The Picasso Pantry in the village hall traded well, even on Sunday. When I toured a very quiet village at 3.00 there was one forlorn character left behind - he, or was it a she, would pose with anyone and hug anything. It was last seen heading for a trough at the Royal Oak.

Saturday: getting on for 1000 cars only 2½ hours into the Festival.

The Grafton District Scout Band - they're getting better and better - marching down High Street!

HASTY -a copy of one of the tugs which pulled groups of narrow boats through the Blisworth Tunnel.


Food was a major provision. Apart from the Pub there were two "sit-down in comfort places"; Picasso's Pantry in The village hall for Plough-mans
lunches and cream teas, and tea or coffee, and the Baptists' Chapel rooms for much the same fare plus the availability of breakfasts. Both were examples of dedicated hard working "service with smile". For food "fresco-style" there were probably a dozen places one could visit - above was nice and shady. (btw. these photos were taken very much pre-peak! And some didn't mind eating their food off the ground!

On Sunday - rain seemed to cancel out most that was a pleasure the day before . . .