November News
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 26th November 2025
Further progress was made this week constructing the central pier at the Ridd incline. This is now starting to look quite impressive as we approach the finished height. We have decided to ‘step’ the stonework at the back of the pier to show that the structure would have extended further over the wheel pit. The navvies who built the original pier would, of course, have had the benefit of working with nicely dressed stone. We are using stone of varying quality and shape which brings its own challenges. Some pointing will be required to tidy up the external joints. However, once we have completed the build and capped it off with stone, it will give the public a reasonably accurate picture of how the top of the incline would have looked.
Further progress was made this week constructing the central pier at the Ridd incline. This is now starting to look quite impressive as we approach the finished height. We have decided to ‘step’ the stonework at the back of the pier to show that the structure would have extended further over the wheel pit. The navvies who built the original pier would, of course, have had the benefit of working with nicely dressed stone. We are using stone of varying quality and shape which brings its own challenges. Some pointing will be required to tidy up the external joints. However, once we have completed the build and capped it off with stone, it will give the public a reasonably accurate picture of how the top of the incline would have looked.
Work in progress
Another course laid
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 19th November 2025
A small team assembled at Ridd this week on a chilly morning to continue with construction of the central pier of the upper docking bays. We are making steady progress with this part of the restoration project although it is not without its challenges, mainly because we are using largely undressed stone which is not always easy to lay. However, by the end of the morning we had completed another course. (The photo shows the stones dry-laid prior to being cemented in place). We aim to lay one more course to bring the pier to what we think would have been more or less its original height.
A small team assembled at Ridd this week on a chilly morning to continue with construction of the central pier of the upper docking bays. We are making steady progress with this part of the restoration project although it is not without its challenges, mainly because we are using largely undressed stone which is not always easy to lay. However, by the end of the morning we had completed another course. (The photo shows the stones dry-laid prior to being cemented in place). We aim to lay one more course to bring the pier to what we think would have been more or less its original height.
Central pier
Pier viewed from Tarka Trail
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 5th November 2025
A depleted team gathered at Ridd this week with the aim of carrying out some much needed scrub bashing on the lower canal bed and around the stables.
We were greatly looking forward to trialling our latest acquisition – a powerful motorised strimmer. At its last meeting, the Executive Committee authorised the purchase of this machine to provide volunteers with some additional ‘muscle’ to help maintain the canal. This has become an increasingly onerous task as we have opened up new sections. After setting up the machine, we gave it a trial run on the lower canal bed which had become very overgrown. The machine proved more than equal to the challenge. The powered drive makes it extremely efficient and we strimmed the entire canal bed in less than an hour – something which would have taken several sessions at least with a hand held strimmer. The machine certainly got the thumbs-up from the team and will prove invaluable in helping to keep vegetation under control.
A depleted team gathered at Ridd this week with the aim of carrying out some much needed scrub bashing on the lower canal bed and around the stables.
We were greatly looking forward to trialling our latest acquisition – a powerful motorised strimmer. At its last meeting, the Executive Committee authorised the purchase of this machine to provide volunteers with some additional ‘muscle’ to help maintain the canal. This has become an increasingly onerous task as we have opened up new sections. After setting up the machine, we gave it a trial run on the lower canal bed which had become very overgrown. The machine proved more than equal to the challenge. The powered drive makes it extremely efficient and we strimmed the entire canal bed in less than an hour – something which would have taken several sessions at least with a hand held strimmer. The machine certainly got the thumbs-up from the team and will prove invaluable in helping to keep vegetation under control.
Trialling the powered strimmer
Strimming outside the stables
Canal bed after strimming
Stables after strimming
We spent the rest of the morning clearing a tree which had fallen very inconveniently across the lower incline. The tree was covered in a mass of ivy which had to be stripped first before we could start to remove some of the branches. The main trunk has now been exposed and we hope to tackle this next week. Just another example of the many hazards we have to contend with!
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.
Tackling the fallen tree
The cleared branch