June News
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT FROM IAN HARRISON - Wednesday 19th June 2019
Last week the painstaking excavation in the Tucking Mill area revealed a complicated and interesting series of “rooms” on different levels. There are several openings low down perhaps a water system running through the building.
Last week the painstaking excavation in the Tucking Mill area revealed a complicated and interesting series of “rooms” on different levels. There are several openings low down perhaps a water system running through the building.
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The reconstruction work on the upper basin wall next to the tucking mill continued and this too is presenting a few mysteries such as the depression in the wall and an iron artefact found in the mud below it. Digging here also threw up some large irregular lumps of black glass thought to be similar to that found associated with lead smelting in the Mendips – what could be the story here?
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We also carried out some reinstatement of the base of the lime kiln arch adjacent to the basin to emphasise the layout of the lime kiln site.
Next Wednesday 26 June we will again be at Rosemoor meeting at 9.30 am in the car-park as usual.
GUIDED WALK REPORT - ROSEMOOR FROM MIKE HARPER - Sunday 16th June 2019
A good size group of people met up at a damp RHS Rosemoor, where Rolle Canal Society walk leader Chris Hassall led the party down to Darkham Weir, the head of the Rolle Canal.
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Canal Society Chairman, Ian Harrison, then took over to show the group the latest restoration work at the canal basin and lime kilns. This included a look at the remains of the tucking mill that Rolle Canal Society volunteers are gradually uncovering.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT FROM MICHAEL ELLIOTT - Wednesday 12th June 2019
There was another reasonable turnout this week, with the volunteers focusing their work on the tucking mill area. Recent rain had raised the water level in the canal next to the mill, but this did not deter work on rebuilding the canal-side wall of the mill. Work continued on clearing reeds and other plants from the canal bed. Further excavations also revealed more of the inside wall of the mill building next to the canal. Exposing the inside of this wall will mean moving a huge amount of earth under the wheel barrow in the photograph.
There was another reasonable turnout this week, with the volunteers focusing their work on the tucking mill area. Recent rain had raised the water level in the canal next to the mill, but this did not deter work on rebuilding the canal-side wall of the mill. Work continued on clearing reeds and other plants from the canal bed. Further excavations also revealed more of the inside wall of the mill building next to the canal. Exposing the inside of this wall will mean moving a huge amount of earth under the wheel barrow in the photograph.
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Generally, working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting in the main car park at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington at 9.30am. New volunteers are always welcome. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) for more information.