August News
ROLLE CANAL SOCIETY GUIDED WALK - SUNDAY 1st SEPTEMBER - TADDIPORT AND TORRINGTON COMMONS
The headquarters of the Rolle Canal Company was at Taddiport and several associated buildings and structures can be seen here. From the entrance of the old milk factory, the route proceeds along the "Rolle Road", a bridleway which is actually the fairly intact bed of the Rolle Canal, through Torrington Commons. Then, via the back street "ginnels" off Mill Street, down to the beautiful Torridge-side meadows and back to Taddiport Bridge. A fascinating mixture of nature, past industrial sites, proposed developments and efforts to safeguard ecology. Length about 2 miles. Meet at 2:30 pm on Sunday 1st September at the entrance to the old milk factory at Taddiport.
Individuals take part at their own risk and must take responsibility for their own safety at all times. The income from the small charge of £2 per person on the guided walks makes a valuable contribution to the Society's work in improving access along the canal and providing interpretation of the major features.
Please note that dogs, even on leads, are discouraged.
The headquarters of the Rolle Canal Company was at Taddiport and several associated buildings and structures can be seen here. From the entrance of the old milk factory, the route proceeds along the "Rolle Road", a bridleway which is actually the fairly intact bed of the Rolle Canal, through Torrington Commons. Then, via the back street "ginnels" off Mill Street, down to the beautiful Torridge-side meadows and back to Taddiport Bridge. A fascinating mixture of nature, past industrial sites, proposed developments and efforts to safeguard ecology. Length about 2 miles. Meet at 2:30 pm on Sunday 1st September at the entrance to the old milk factory at Taddiport.
Individuals take part at their own risk and must take responsibility for their own safety at all times. The income from the small charge of £2 per person on the guided walks makes a valuable contribution to the Society's work in improving access along the canal and providing interpretation of the major features.
Please note that dogs, even on leads, are discouraged.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 28th August 2024
We put in another session at Ridd this week to move forward the ongoing restoration project. We were greatly assisted in this with the help of three ‘trainee navvies’ from the Reynolds family who got stuck in with great enthusiasm chopping down saplings, burning waste and doing some helpful scrub bashing.
We put in another session at Ridd this week to move forward the ongoing restoration project. We were greatly assisted in this with the help of three ‘trainee navvies’ from the Reynolds family who got stuck in with great enthusiasm chopping down saplings, burning waste and doing some helpful scrub bashing.
Young navvy in action
Young navvies scrub bashing
The steps to the inspection chamber have now been completed and our masons turned their attention to re-building the damaged boundary wall. We knew that sourcing stone for this would be a major problem but fortunately we discovered a pile of stone from a collapsed wall near the entrance to the inspection chamber and this was quickly recycled! We are dry-laying the wall as we think this is how it would have originally been constructed.
Re-building the boundary wall
We also spent a bit of time clearing vegetation from the top of the incline adjacent to the Tarka Trail. We have appointed a contractor to fell some of the trees on this section of the incline which will open it up to its full width (currently only about one third is visible). This work will take place later this year.
Top of incline after clearing
Incline after clearing
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday morning at Ridd. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Michael Elliott - 21st August 2024
This week the Ridd team was reinforced with next-generation Navvies, who set about scrub clearing and feeding the bonfire. The huge pile of scrub accumulated over the last few weeks disappeared quickly. It is amazing how well green hazel burns.
This week the Ridd team was reinforced with next-generation Navvies, who set about scrub clearing and feeding the bonfire. The huge pile of scrub accumulated over the last few weeks disappeared quickly. It is amazing how well green hazel burns.
Another part of the team descended to the lower section, strimming back the re-growth. The path to the flood embankment also received attention. This path is well down the field towards the river, which looks rather untidy due to the lack of recent grazing. Hopefully, one day the path will be along the canal towpath which has meanwhile disappeared under rampant growth of bramble and elder bushes.
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We also placed a sheet of roofing felt to see if there are any grass snakes on the site, as part of the wildlife survey requested by the Environment Agency.
The final group continued work revealing and re-building the dry-stone wall and steps near the picnic table.
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Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday morning at Ridd or Rosemoor. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 14th August 2024
We assembled at Ridd in light drizzle but thankfully the clouds soon cleared and the sun appeared making for pleasant working conditions. With a full team we were able to make good progress in a number of areas.
Two volunteers bravely entered the temperate jungle to hack their way through the undergrowth and extend the line of the canal for a few more metres. It is really encouraging to see the canal bed exposed here as this is an area we have not been able to properly investigate until now.
We assembled at Ridd in light drizzle but thankfully the clouds soon cleared and the sun appeared making for pleasant working conditions. With a full team we were able to make good progress in a number of areas.
Two volunteers bravely entered the temperate jungle to hack their way through the undergrowth and extend the line of the canal for a few more metres. It is really encouraging to see the canal bed exposed here as this is an area we have not been able to properly investigate until now.
Clearing the canal bed
Cleared canal bed
We continued to dig out the earth bank along the boundary wall at the top of the incline and were able to take this back to the end of the wall just above the top of the wheel pit. The wall here is in pretty good condition. Further excavation confirms our theory that the wall was dry-laid on a base of puddling clay. We unearthed some more ironwork from the railway at the end of the wall.
Foundation of boundary wall
End of boundary wall
Steps under construction
Good progress was also made on constructing the steps at the entrance to the path to the inspection chamber which are taking shape nicely thanks to the discovery of some excellent stone buried nearby.
The rest of the team spent the morning strimming the periphery of the site and the access to the lower incline where brambles and nettles are starting to encroach on the path once more – all part of our ongoing tussle with Nature!
The rest of the team spent the morning strimming the periphery of the site and the access to the lower incline where brambles and nettles are starting to encroach on the path once more – all part of our ongoing tussle with Nature!
Railway ironwork
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday morning at Ridd. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.