September News
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 30th September 2026
Work on the upper pier of the incline advanced significantly this week with the start of the installation of coping on the top of the wall. Our carpenters had measured, cut and assembled the shuttering off site and this was brought in sections to be installed on the pier. Once in place, we started the labour-intensive process of hand mixing huge quantities of concrete to fill the individual moulds. One mould requires just over two barrow loads of mix so the team was kept busy during the entire session. Thankfully, the rain held off and we were able to fill the entire length of shuttering by the end of the morning so the first half is now complete. Next week we will remove the shuttering and use this to form the second half of the coping – weather permitting!
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Work on the upper pier of the incline advanced significantly this week with the start of the installation of coping on the top of the wall. Our carpenters had measured, cut and assembled the shuttering off site and this was brought in sections to be installed on the pier. Once in place, we started the labour-intensive process of hand mixing huge quantities of concrete to fill the individual moulds. One mould requires just over two barrow loads of mix so the team was kept busy during the entire session. Thankfully, the rain held off and we were able to fill the entire length of shuttering by the end of the morning so the first half is now complete. Next week we will remove the shuttering and use this to form the second half of the coping – weather permitting!
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Installing the shuttering
Shuttering in place
Filling with concrete
Completed coping
FURZEBEAM REPORTS by Tony Nicholls
2nd September 2026
This week we spent a lot of time at Ridd taking measurements of the upper and lower incline to try to establish the exact dimensions of the plane and fix a centre line which will determine where we install the rails. We are fortunate to have a volunteer who is a retired civil engineer who came generously equipped with theodolite and surveying gear to make the measurements as accurate as possible. The photos show the work in progress. After a lot of checking and re-checking, we think we have laid out the upper and lower points of the installation. Interestingly, it looks as if the upper incline extends further to the right (looking down) tha we thought. There is a clear edge to the structure about four feet beyond the boundary fence with Ridd Cottage which we think was originally put in place by the railway company.
2nd September 2026
This week we spent a lot of time at Ridd taking measurements of the upper and lower incline to try to establish the exact dimensions of the plane and fix a centre line which will determine where we install the rails. We are fortunate to have a volunteer who is a retired civil engineer who came generously equipped with theodolite and surveying gear to make the measurements as accurate as possible. The photos show the work in progress. After a lot of checking and re-checking, we think we have laid out the upper and lower points of the installation. Interestingly, it looks as if the upper incline extends further to the right (looking down) tha we thought. There is a clear edge to the structure about four feet beyond the boundary fence with Ridd Cottage which we think was originally put in place by the railway company.
Measuring up
Sighting from the upper pier
Establishing the centre line
9th September 2026
Having done a lot of the measuring up at Ridd last week, we returned to Furzebeam this week to carry out further clearance work. Our main priority was to tackle the large fallen tree across the canal bed. With a lot of effort we were able to cut this up into segments which we placed along the towpath to better define the edge. The net result of all our clearance work is that we have four large piles of brash to burn in due course. However, we can tell that we are making significant progress as the walk from the Tarka Trail to the work site is getting noticeably shorter!
Having done a lot of the measuring up at Ridd last week, we returned to Furzebeam this week to carry out further clearance work. Our main priority was to tackle the large fallen tree across the canal bed. With a lot of effort we were able to cut this up into segments which we placed along the towpath to better define the edge. The net result of all our clearance work is that we have four large piles of brash to burn in due course. However, we can tell that we are making significant progress as the walk from the Tarka Trail to the work site is getting noticeably shorter!
Dismembered tree and brash piles
Logs laid along towpath
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.