There is not much to Hillmorton. A few pubs, a strip mall, the occasional chip shop, an old folks home… Most of it is suburban sprawl from the second half of the 20th century. The church, however, is a fine example of low bid vernacular. You start with a 13th century building built on the edge of a swamp, and then whenever bits fall down, you get the lowest bidder to do the repairs.

The result after eight hundred years or so is a mixture of limestone, sandstone, several kinds of brick, and stucco, sometimes all in the same wall.

The other side of the church they have a section of the former graveyard sealed off with orange plastic barriers as they are digging a trench. I bet it is being done by the lowest bidder.

We are currently squeezed into the boatyard between another boat and a crane.

That’s us with the laundry in the back. It’s not the best view, but the most interesting businesses in town are in all the old canal warehouses next to us. More on that tomorrow when they are open.