November News
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 27th November 2024
Returning to Ridd this week, we split the team in two with our masons continuing their good work on the boundary wall of the upper pound. Progress is being hampered by the lack of stone and a large tree root growing out of the wall – a familiar obstruction which we hope to remove next week with some mechanical assistance.
Arriving at the lower level, we were greeted by the vista of a fast flowing and turbulent River Torridge swollen with flood water after the recent heavy rain – an impressive sight.
Returning to Ridd this week, we split the team in two with our masons continuing their good work on the boundary wall of the upper pound. Progress is being hampered by the lack of stone and a large tree root growing out of the wall – a familiar obstruction which we hope to remove next week with some mechanical assistance.
Arriving at the lower level, we were greeted by the vista of a fast flowing and turbulent River Torridge swollen with flood water after the recent heavy rain – an impressive sight.
A turbulent Torridge
With the area around the old stable building and the lower incline now in good shape, the rest of the team turned their attention to the canal bed itself and made a start clearing vegetation at the north end of the Ridd site adjacent to the flood embankment. In the past we have not had the resources to do any work in this area which has consequently become badly overgrown with brambles, nettles and elder trees. On the face of it, the task seemed quite daunting but after several hours of determined effort we had made a significant impact and exposed several metres of the canal bed. We were rewarded with a glimpse of water in the bed at one point proving that, after 200 years, there is still life in the canal yet!
The team prepare to start work
Clearing vegetation
Removing dead tree
The growing brash mountain
Partially cleared canal bed
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.
SEA LOCK RESTORATION REPORT by Michael Elliott - 26th November 2024
This week saw cold and bright weather, perfect for wharf rebuilding. The previous week a strut on the cement mixer had broken, and the coping stones were too tall, so two smaller stones were cast to go next, to be followed by the others. But on arrival, the first task was starting the Kubota, and then again mid-morning. Its battery obviously needs a good charge. Once the Kubota was going, Nick mixed the usual prodigious quantities of mortar assisted by Colin holding up the mixer. Jeremy pointed stonework and Steve laid the four coping stones. Meanwhile, Tony and I continued clearing the top of the wall, until we reached two very large original stone copers. These are very poor quality, splitting into large splinters but too heavy to lift by hand and too awkward to lift out by machine. So the next task will be to break them up by hand into manageable pieces. Hilary located the battery charger so hopefully that will fix the Kubota problem for next time.
This week saw cold and bright weather, perfect for wharf rebuilding. The previous week a strut on the cement mixer had broken, and the coping stones were too tall, so two smaller stones were cast to go next, to be followed by the others. But on arrival, the first task was starting the Kubota, and then again mid-morning. Its battery obviously needs a good charge. Once the Kubota was going, Nick mixed the usual prodigious quantities of mortar assisted by Colin holding up the mixer. Jeremy pointed stonework and Steve laid the four coping stones. Meanwhile, Tony and I continued clearing the top of the wall, until we reached two very large original stone copers. These are very poor quality, splitting into large splinters but too heavy to lift by hand and too awkward to lift out by machine. So the next task will be to break them up by hand into manageable pieces. Hilary located the battery charger so hopefully that will fix the Kubota problem for next time.
|
|
|
|
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 20th November 2024
The team returned to Ridd this week to continue work on our restoration project. It was the first really cold day of the year with the temperature hovering around zero as we arrived on site.
The team returned to Ridd this week to continue work on our restoration project. It was the first really cold day of the year with the temperature hovering around zero as we arrived on site.
Area around stable after strimming
On the upper incline, our masons carried on with the exploration of the boundary wall of the canal and exposed a further length of foundation stonework which proves that the wall extended much further than we originally thought. Unlike the previous section, the foundations are in poor condition and will need to be relaid before we can rebuild.
Continuation of boundary wall
The rest of the team set to work on the area around the former stable block. One of our first tasks was to repair and rehang the broken gate at the entrance to the site. We had managed to salvage the hinges from the old gatepost and re-fitted these to the post which we installed a couple of weeks ago. The gate was then rehung and given a coat of protective creosote which should ensure a reasonable lifespan. We also carried out a major strim of the area around the stables and the approach to the lower incline. The extra resources we have been able to devote to the Ridd project are certainly paying dividends as the appearance of the site has been greatly improved. Additional work is planned in the coming weeks which will further enhance the area. Watch this space!
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.
Preparing to rehang the gate
Rehung gate
Lower incline after strimming
FURZEBEAM RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 13th November 2024
We had another session at Furzebeam this week to continue work on some of our outstanding tasks.
After completing repairs on the serious breach in the embankment caused by a fallen tree, we noticed that there was another, smaller collapse in the embankment a few metres further along the towpath. Unfortunately, this sort of damage is becoming a perennial problem as a result of subsidence and we are concerned about the ongoing condition of the embankment as a whole. Part of the team set to work pulling out the collapsed masonry before starting the rebuild. As usual, the job proved to be a lot more difficult than we initially thought but, by the end of the morning, the breach had been largely repaired and the towpath made safe.
We had another session at Furzebeam this week to continue work on some of our outstanding tasks.
After completing repairs on the serious breach in the embankment caused by a fallen tree, we noticed that there was another, smaller collapse in the embankment a few metres further along the towpath. Unfortunately, this sort of damage is becoming a perennial problem as a result of subsidence and we are concerned about the ongoing condition of the embankment as a whole. Part of the team set to work pulling out the collapsed masonry before starting the rebuild. As usual, the job proved to be a lot more difficult than we initially thought but, by the end of the morning, the breach had been largely repaired and the towpath made safe.
Starting the repair
Removing stone from the breach
|
After completing repairs on the serious breach in the embankment caused by a fallen tree, we noticed that there was another, smaller collapse in the embankment a few metres further along the towpath. Unfortunately, this sort of damage is becoming a perennial problem as a result of subsidence and we are concerned about the ongoing condition of the embankment as a whole. Part of the team set to work pulling out the collapsed masonry before starting the rebuild. As usual, the job proved to be a lot more difficult than we initially thought but, by the end of the morning, the breach had been largely repaired and the towpath made safe.
Canal bed before clearing
|
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.
SEA LOCK (MIDDDLE WHARF) RESTORATION REPORT by Michael Elliott - 12th November 2024
The Sea Lock team have settled into the routine of casting and laying two coping stones a week, so the re-built Middle Wharf wall was noticeably further along since two weeks ago. The end is in sight, but there is now talk of moving the goal posts, as we are not sure we have uncovered the full extent of the wall. With the scaffolding moved again, and new Tuesday volunteer Colin joining us for the first time, great progress was made in removing earth from on top of the wall, dismantling and rebuilding another section, and laying two more coping stones. The same again next week, weather permitting.
The Sea Lock team have settled into the routine of casting and laying two coping stones a week, so the re-built Middle Wharf wall was noticeably further along since two weeks ago. The end is in sight, but there is now talk of moving the goal posts, as we are not sure we have uncovered the full extent of the wall. With the scaffolding moved again, and new Tuesday volunteer Colin joining us for the first time, great progress was made in removing earth from on top of the wall, dismantling and rebuilding another section, and laying two more coping stones. The same again next week, weather permitting.
|
|
FURZEBEAM RESTORATION REPORT by Michael Elliott - 6th November 2024
This week the team continued the work from the week before re-building the embankment damaged by the fallen tree, and digging out vegetation from the canal bed near the roving bridge.
This week the team continued the work from the week before re-building the embankment damaged by the fallen tree, and digging out vegetation from the canal bed near the roving bridge.
Additional stone was recovered from the slope to supplement those already re-cycled back into the embankment, with a final few barrow-loads of chipping to complete the job. There is a further small collapse nearby that will be tackled later.
Meanwhile work continued removing bramble and dog rose roots from the canal bed, along with many clumps of rushes. Hopefully this means the undergrowth will return more slowly in the spring. The target was for the cleared section to reach wet section nearby, but this was not quite reached. Further on, another nearby section of the canal bed was given a good haircut.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact the Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel. 01237-475707) for more information.
|
|