July News
ROSEMOOR WORK PARTY - Report by Tony Barnes - 29th July 2020
Only three of us today but we managed to increase the buttress on the lime kiln by 18 inches and reveal more of the tucking mill history.
Only three of us today but we managed to increase the buttress on the lime kiln by 18 inches and reveal more of the tucking mill history.
It now looks fairly certain that the mill was extended after the canal was closed with a new building which was over the towpath. Julia has been doing more research and it may be that it was to move to hide and leather preparation for which there was a high demand in Torrington for glove making.
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STILL MOVING ON - Sea Lock Report by Adrian Wills - 25th July 2020
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Work has progressed well at Sea Lock this week. On Tuesday Trevor and I were joined by Michael and we concentrated on repairing the section of wharf wall where we extracted the tree stump and large roots. Root canal filling? Ironically I had Wednesday off since I had finally managed to get an appointment with my dentist to have a lost filling replaced. What with PPE and social distancing, what a palaver that was! But that’s another story. Thursday was rather a damp day so Trevor and I decided not to continue building but to cut to size some plywood for constructing shuttering for yet more ‘coping stone’ casting. Then we mucked about with the RB crane. |
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It had not been worked for a while and since we were going to need its services for lifting more coping blocks onto the wall we started it up but found that the hook-block would not lower.
We finally managed to attach a pallet with about a ton of bricks on it to provide additional weight to the brake bands which had probably developed a film of rust and were sticking which was causing the problem (we think!). We eventually managed to get the crane to raise and lower the load but by the end of the day it was still not operating smoothly. Will have to make some adjustments to the various clutch and brake bands next.
We finally managed to attach a pallet with about a ton of bricks on it to provide additional weight to the brake bands which had probably developed a film of rust and were sticking which was causing the problem (we think!). We eventually managed to get the crane to raise and lower the load but by the end of the day it was still not operating smoothly. Will have to make some adjustments to the various clutch and brake bands next.
On Friday a nice clear set of otter prints appeared in the lock chamber. These creatures visit quite often but are very shy and secretive so are rarely actually seen.
In the afternoon I filled the new shuttering with concrete and now have one more ‘coping stone’ waiting to be laid.
In the afternoon I filled the new shuttering with concrete and now have one more ‘coping stone’ waiting to be laid.
ROSEMOOR WORK PARTY - Report by Tony Nicholls - 22nd July 2020
We returned to the Rosemoor site today in fine, warm weather to pick up from where we left off last week. We split our workforce into two teams:
We returned to the Rosemoor site today in fine, warm weather to pick up from where we left off last week. We split our workforce into two teams:
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One team started on the major task of repairing the west wall of the lime kiln. As can be seen from the photographs, we have tried to give an indication of the shape of the base of the arch which would originally have extended to the side of the wharf. Above this, we intend to re-build and stabilise the badly degraded corner of the structure before restoring the rest of the wall. We will probably not be able to take the wall up to its original height as we can only work safely within the limits of the scaffolding. However, any remedial work we can do here will help with the longer term preservation of the building. The re-build will require a significant amount of stone so it looks as if further on-site scavenging will be required!
View of the damaged corner
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Re-build of the arch outline
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View of the damage to the main arch
The second team made a start on clearing vegetation from the tucking mill. As we expected, during our absence, this had become badly overgrown with sedges, thistles and the dreaded Himalayan Balsam. Young shoots of sycamore and hazel were also sprouting vigorously from the stumps of trees felled earlier in the year so the site was greatly obscured. Fortunately, most of the weeds were shallow-rooted so we were able to make rapid progress in clearing the site in preparation for further excavation next week.
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Working arrangements may vary in the immediate future as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. Anyone wishing to volunteer should contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) or Treasurer, Tony Barnes (tel. 01237-473801) for up-to-date information.
WORKING PARTY AT SEA LOCK - Report by Michael Elliott - 21st July 2020
The small team arrived at Sealock in glorious weather. We were greeted by the usual pile of bricks awaiting sorting into whole bricks, the remained to be broken up for the driveway. There was a good length of wall ready for coping stones, but minus a large section where tree roots had penetrated the wall, as reported last week. Mortar was mixed, stones were laid, soil removed with a giant vacuum/blower, and bricks were broken in penal hard labour. The morning ended with tackling the large gap in the wall.
The small team arrived at Sealock in glorious weather. We were greeted by the usual pile of bricks awaiting sorting into whole bricks, the remained to be broken up for the driveway. There was a good length of wall ready for coping stones, but minus a large section where tree roots had penetrated the wall, as reported last week. Mortar was mixed, stones were laid, soil removed with a giant vacuum/blower, and bricks were broken in penal hard labour. The morning ended with tackling the large gap in the wall.
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ROSEMOOR WORK PARTY - Report by Tony Nicholls - 14th July 2020
An ever-growing band of navvies met at RHS Rosemoor this week – our first visit after an enforced absence of some 16 weeks following the lockdown of the complex. We approached the site with some trepidation in the knowledge that Nature would have taken its course and started to reclaim its own. We were not mistaken! The grassed area in front of the lime kiln was a mess and weeds had sprouted in abundance. At the edge of the bund, a group of teazles had seeded themselves and had grown to an impressive height of about eight feet. (We may leave these in situ given their former use carding yarn produced in the old tucking mill). The water level in the canal basin had dropped significantly and was consequently badly infested with grass and weed at the northern end. A scum of weed and algae covered much of the water surface. The towpath had virtually disappeared under brambles, ragwort and the branches of overgrowing shrubs. All in all, a rather dispiriting scene.
An ever-growing band of navvies met at RHS Rosemoor this week – our first visit after an enforced absence of some 16 weeks following the lockdown of the complex. We approached the site with some trepidation in the knowledge that Nature would have taken its course and started to reclaim its own. We were not mistaken! The grassed area in front of the lime kiln was a mess and weeds had sprouted in abundance. At the edge of the bund, a group of teazles had seeded themselves and had grown to an impressive height of about eight feet. (We may leave these in situ given their former use carding yarn produced in the old tucking mill). The water level in the canal basin had dropped significantly and was consequently badly infested with grass and weed at the northern end. A scum of weed and algae covered much of the water surface. The towpath had virtually disappeared under brambles, ragwort and the branches of overgrowing shrubs. All in all, a rather dispiriting scene.
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We decided our first task was to tidy up the wharfside. The grass was mowed and most of the weeds removed by hand which resulted in an immediate visual improvement. We then turned our attention to the basin itself. Two members of the team in waders pulled out a mass of water plantain which, if left, would have seeded and spread rapidly. Another volunteer took a strimmer to the vegetation at the northern end of the basin and managed to cut back all the growth by the end of the morning. We also succeeded in clearing most of the overgrowth from the towpath which is accessible once again.
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The scaffolding has now been moved from the south end of the lime kiln to the west face of the structure and this has enabled us to make a start on removing the ivy from the wall which is in poor condition in places. Our intention is to repair the damaged sections as far as possible and, eventually, to attempt to restore the large arch here. This will be a major undertaking but, without urgent remedial work, the arch will collapse and this will compromise a large part of the structure. This would be a tragedy which we are anxious to prevent.
After a busy morning, we left the site in a much better condition than we found it – a good first step to getting it back into shape.
After a busy morning, we left the site in a much better condition than we found it – a good first step to getting it back into shape.
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WORKING PARTY AT SEA LOCK - Report by Michael Elliott - 14th July 2020
Further work at Sea Lock over the last week succeeded in extracting the large tree-root that spanned the whole thickness of the wharf wall, so the first task was to move it out of the way.
Further work at Sea Lock over the last week succeeded in extracting the large tree-root that spanned the whole thickness of the wharf wall, so the first task was to move it out of the way.
Then it was back to work rebuilding the wall whilst simultaneously demolishing it back to a solid base. Later in the day Adrian reported to me that having used the last of the mortar relaying stonework, and some repointing at the base of the wall, Ian and Trevor joined battle with a tree root which had grown down through the middle of the wall, in parallel to it, reaching a diameter of well over 100cm! Fortunately the root was dead, very dry and rotten so it hacked out relatively easily but needless to say it had loosened a considerable amount of masonry during its lifetime. Another gaping hole has resulted and therefore more extensive rebuilding is now required. Oh what fun! |
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WORKING PARTY AT SEA LOCK - Report by Michael Elliott - 7th July 2020
Arrival at Sea Lock revealed low supplies of sand and lime, limiting the possibilities for stone re-laying. Nevertheless, the small team cracked on with the cement mixer, mortaring, and exposing the thickness of the original wharf wall. These archaeological investigations show the wall was 130cm (four feet) thick. When the mortar supplies ran out, a few more bricks were cleaned up for re-use from the ever waiting pile of rubble.
Arrival at Sea Lock revealed low supplies of sand and lime, limiting the possibilities for stone re-laying. Nevertheless, the small team cracked on with the cement mixer, mortaring, and exposing the thickness of the original wharf wall. These archaeological investigations show the wall was 130cm (four feet) thick. When the mortar supplies ran out, a few more bricks were cleaned up for re-use from the ever waiting pile of rubble.
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LIKE PULLING TEETH by Adrian Wills - 8th July 2020
Yesterday at Sea Lock I was joined again by Trevor and Michael. Whilst Trevor spent the morning on the top of the wall, removing loose masonry and rubble working inland until he found its back edge. This section where the wall was extended is 4 feet wide, considerably wider than the original. While Trevor was working at this task and moving on to clearing around the tree stump sticking out of the wall, Michael, in between cleaning off more bricks, kept me supplied with mortar until our diminishing supplies of grit sand and hydraulic lime finally ran out.
Yesterday at Sea Lock I was joined again by Trevor and Michael. Whilst Trevor spent the morning on the top of the wall, removing loose masonry and rubble working inland until he found its back edge. This section where the wall was extended is 4 feet wide, considerably wider than the original. While Trevor was working at this task and moving on to clearing around the tree stump sticking out of the wall, Michael, in between cleaning off more bricks, kept me supplied with mortar until our diminishing supplies of grit sand and hydraulic lime finally ran out.
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After lunch Trevor and I decided that drastic measures had to be taken against the offending stump. Using the back hoe of the Kubota tractor I attacked one part of the stump which, rather to our surprise, quickly surrendered and pulled out quite easily. A larger piece was still firmly buried in the wall and beyond the reach of the back hoe so we continued gently prising away the stonework and mortar around it using pointing trowels. This approach was tedious and not proving very successful so I resorted, once again to brute strength and ignorance. Managing to insert the point of a very large bar iron in underneath the stump I was able to apply considerable leverage to it and with Trevor helping it was not long before we heard some creaking and cracking and eventually the whole stump broke free leaving a large cavity in the wall. Much as we expected, there is now a considerable amount of extra masonry to make good but that’s for another day!After lunch Trevor and I decided that drastic measures had to be taken against the offending stump. Using the back hoe of the Kubota tractor I attacked one part of the stump which, rather to our surprise, quickly surrendered and pulled out quite easily. A larger piece was still firmly buried in the wall and beyond the reach of the back hoe so we continued gently prising away the stonework and mortar around it using pointing trowels. This approach was tedious and not proving very successful so I resorted, once again to brute strength and ignorance. Managing to insert the point of a very large bar iron in underneath the stump I was able to apply considerable leverage to it and with Trevor helping it was not long before we heard some creaking and cracking and eventually the whole stump broke free leaving a large cavity in the wall. Much as we expected, there is now a considerable amount of extra masonry to make good but that’s for another day!
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WORKING PARTY AT SEA LOCK - Report by Michael Elliott - 6th July 2020
This week the Furzebeam working party moved to Sea Lock to start preparing the wharf wall for rebuilding, now the corner has been turned.
This week the Furzebeam working party moved to Sea Lock to start preparing the wharf wall for rebuilding, now the corner has been turned.
Arriving late, like this report, the damp scene revealed a team hard at work clearing soil and vegetation from the wall, and cleaning up bricks for re-use. As the morning brightened, so more soil from the top of the wall was removed, until the work shifted to removing a tree-stump growing through the wall. When the stump is finally removed, it will take out most of the the wall at that point.
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ON THE HOMEWARD STRAIGHT AND WORKS OF ART? by Adrian Wills - 3rd July 2020
I have finally turned the corner at Sea Lock and am now trying to rebuild the very badly damaged straight section of wall from the turn to the causeway, A mere 60 metres!
I have finally turned the corner at Sea Lock and am now trying to rebuild the very badly damaged straight section of wall from the turn to the causeway, A mere 60 metres!
Yesterday I was reunited with Trevor, my stalwart friend and Rolle Canal Society volunteer. We started the day continuing to remove loose masonry from the wall where I had been working the day before with four other Rolle Canal Society volunteers. Good progress was being made so after a break for lunch I decided to mix a load of mortar and replace some of the missing stones and pointing.
Trevor now concentrated on clearing around the remains of an old tree stump which had grown out of the wall creating considerable damage. By the end of the day the results of Trevor’s efforts had revealed something reminiscent of Henry Moore or Barbara Hepworth!
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I will now attempt to set fire to what’s left of the stump in the hope that not too much more damage to the wall will occur.