August News
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 27th August 2025
There were great celebrations at Ridd today as, after weeks of dogged sawing, digging (and not a little cursing!) the huge stump situated at the top of the incline finally surrendered. The final root gave way at about 12.30 pm but we were then faced with the formidable task of actually getting the stump out of its hole. Our chairman very generously offered the use of his Land Rover for this task and, with the aid of a strong strop, we were able to haul the stump out. A very satisfying moment! This was an amazing achievement and a tribute to our hard working navvies who have spent the last five weeks in a determined assault on this massive obstacle.
There were great celebrations at Ridd today as, after weeks of dogged sawing, digging (and not a little cursing!) the huge stump situated at the top of the incline finally surrendered. The final root gave way at about 12.30 pm but we were then faced with the formidable task of actually getting the stump out of its hole. Our chairman very generously offered the use of his Land Rover for this task and, with the aid of a strong strop, we were able to haul the stump out. A very satisfying moment! This was an amazing achievement and a tribute to our hard working navvies who have spent the last five weeks in a determined assault on this massive obstacle.
The stump surrenders
Hauling out the stump
The stump uprooted
While this work was under way, our masons continued with the re-build of the boundary wall of the canal south of the wheel pit. We have now extended this as far as is practicable and it has greatly enhanced the appearance of the site. It should be noted that this work was outside the scope of the original restoration project and is therefore something of a bonus but has been well worth the effort as the line of the canal south of the wheel pit is now clearly defined.
Completion of boundary wall
We are now turning our attention to the task of rebuilding the central pier of the upper docking bays. We know that the tub boats were 5’ 6” wide (in ‘old money’) and that the channels would therefore need to have been about 6’ wide – fairly narrow but this would have been essential to guide the boats accurately onto the rails of the incline. Taking measurements from the boundary wall and the line of Marland bricks on the Tarka Trail which mark the eastern limit of the incline has enabled us to estimate reasonably accurately the dimensions of the central pier. This works out at about eight feet in width. The photo shows a rough outline of the central pier as we imagine it might have looked based on a photo of the incline at Hobbacott on the Bude Canal.
Outline of central pier
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
MUD, MUD, GLORIOUS MUD! Sea Lock report by Michael Elliott - 21st August 2025
A small team was back at Sea Lock on Thursday to work on two related projects - repairing a pump, and clearing mud from the bottom on the lock. We need to clear parts of the lock base so engineering measurements can be taken for the design of lock gates, for which we have a grant. The first pictures show the extent of the challenge, which may require us to hire a digger and driver.
A small team was back at Sea Lock on Thursday to work on two related projects - repairing a pump, and clearing mud from the bottom on the lock. We need to clear parts of the lock base so engineering measurements can be taken for the design of lock gates, for which we have a grant. The first pictures show the extent of the challenge, which may require us to hire a digger and driver.
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Before it comes to that, we thought we would try digging by hand. This seems feasible for the upper lock area, as it seems to be boarded near the cill, giving a reasonable footing. We uncovered the cup which will hold the pintle at the base of the lock quoin post so the gate can swing open and shut. Two one-ton dumpy bags were quickly filled with mud. Next week we hope to crane the bags out of the lock. It should then only take two or three sessions to clear the area of the top cill area, tides and weather permitting. The area of the bottom gate will be a bigger challenge!
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The stripped-down pump looked in good condition and hopefully we can get it going next week. It will then be used to pump water around the bund that crosses the middle/upper wharf area. The existing spillway that should set the height of water in the upper wharf has been undermined by the tide so we need to build proper foundations and install a means to drain the pound if necessary. We also measured a template for the drainage paddle. No doubt the pump will also be very useful when working on the lock bottom.
Thanks to Jeremy for the second set of pictures. |
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 20th August 2025
An enthusiastic team – augmented by three willing young navvies from the Reynolds family – assembled at Ridd this week to carry on from where we left off last week.
Our team of amateur tree surgeons set to work on the huge tree stump at the top of the incline with remarkable energy given the laborious nature of the task. A substantial amount of earth was excavated from under the bole to expose the lower roots and, after some (literally) radical surgery, another major chunk was cut off and removed. The stump is certainly not giving up easily but we are making steady progress.
An enthusiastic team – augmented by three willing young navvies from the Reynolds family – assembled at Ridd this week to carry on from where we left off last week.
Our team of amateur tree surgeons set to work on the huge tree stump at the top of the incline with remarkable energy given the laborious nature of the task. A substantial amount of earth was excavated from under the bole to expose the lower roots and, after some (literally) radical surgery, another major chunk was cut off and removed. The stump is certainly not giving up easily but we are making steady progress.
Another root removed
Our masons continued with the rebuild of the boundary wall beyond the wheel pit and managed to extend this by another 6 metres or so. We intend to continue the rebuild for approximately a further 4 metres to a natural end point where the earth bank seems to terminate although sourcing suitable stone is becoming a problem.
Rebuilt boundary wall
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Elsewhere, it was a case of more scrub bashing in our perpetual efforts to control vegetation growth around the site. Two members of the team spent the morning clearing the access path to the lower incline and strimming the canal bed north of the stable block. Clearing this area in the winter has let in more light - something which, judging by their rate of growth, the nettles clearly appreciate. They have spread rapidly across the canal bed and some are over 6 feet high! It makes for very hard work but the growing season is drawing to a close so life should hopefully become a little easier for our hard-pressed volunteers. 
Strimming the lower canal bed
Cleared area around stable block
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information. |
Cleared access path
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RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 13th August 2025
A very good turn out this week resulted in excellent progress being made on a number of fronts on the restoration of the Ridd incline.
Using stone reclaimed from the re-profiling of the upper incline, two of the team made a start on extending the rebuild of the boundary wall of the canal south of the wheel pit. As usual, the work was hampered by the presence of some unwelcome tree roots but our masons soon removed these and were able to start laying stone. While this was happening, two more volunteers got to work with strimmers – one tidying up the area around the wheel pit while the other tackled the area around the stable block and lower incline. Weeds are still growing vigorously so it is essential that we keep on top of them.
A very good turn out this week resulted in excellent progress being made on a number of fronts on the restoration of the Ridd incline.
Using stone reclaimed from the re-profiling of the upper incline, two of the team made a start on extending the rebuild of the boundary wall of the canal south of the wheel pit. As usual, the work was hampered by the presence of some unwelcome tree roots but our masons soon removed these and were able to start laying stone. While this was happening, two more volunteers got to work with strimmers – one tidying up the area around the wheel pit while the other tackled the area around the stable block and lower incline. Weeds are still growing vigorously so it is essential that we keep on top of them.
Preparing to rebuild boundary wall
Rebuild in progress
Tidying up the wheel pit area
We also made good progress infilling the area between the central pier of the upper docking bays and the Tarka Trail. We need to build up the ground here to the original level of the canal bed in order to create a stable base on which to reconstruct the central pier. We hope to be in a position to cast the concrete base in the next week or two.
Infilling the area around the upper docking bays
Elsewhere, the rest of the team continued their assault on the huge tree stump at the top of the incline. This is a laborious task but significant progress was made excavating around the base of the stump. The high point of the morning was the successful excision of a big radial root – a fitting reward for several hours of intense effort. More of the same next week!
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
The team attacking the tree stump
The final cut
Removing the severed root
FURZEBEAM REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 6th August 2025
The team returned to Furzebeam this week to carry out some routine clearance in preparation for the Society’s next guided walk on 10th August. Working conditions were ideal – apart from the flies which immediately appear as soon as they detect the odour of volunteer sweat! We were pleased to see that the vegetation had not grown back too vigorously since our last visit which demonstrates the benefit of regular maintenance.
The team returned to Furzebeam this week to carry out some routine clearance in preparation for the Society’s next guided walk on 10th August. Working conditions were ideal – apart from the flies which immediately appear as soon as they detect the odour of volunteer sweat! We were pleased to see that the vegetation had not grown back too vigorously since our last visit which demonstrates the benefit of regular maintenance.
Roving bridge
A major blockage
Some of the team made a start on clearing the area around the roving bridge which is an important focal point of the walk while the rest trekked on past the diversion to strim the tow path and clear some more of the canal bed. This proved quite difficult as there were several massive fallen trees lying across the canal and any number of sawn-off limbs buried in the bed. We managed – with a fair amount of muscle power - to remove many of these limbs and used them to line the edge of the tow path as we have done elsewhere on this stretch of the canal. It does help to protect and define the edge of the path which we hope is of benefit to walkers. It was also good to expose the stone wall of the canal along this stretch and to see that it is still in remarkably good condition.
Towpath with log edgings
By the end of the session we had cleared approximately a further 100 metres of the canal. Our goal is to get to the crossing point on the Tarka Trail but we recognise that there is still a long way to go! However, this section of the canal from the roving bridge southwards is now looking better than it has done for many years.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Canal looking north
Canal looking south
Cleared section of canal bed
Canal bed and preserved wall