September News
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Ian Harrison - 28th September 2022
This week we carried out work to stabilise and reinstate the steps leading from the towpath down into the tucking mill which is all looking relatively tidy having had a good wash recently.
We also finished the base of the wheelpit to a standard that would grace a rustic farmhouse kitchen floor. The job was made easier as the expected inflow of water had been sealed by last weeks work.
This week we carried out work to stabilise and reinstate the steps leading from the towpath down into the tucking mill which is all looking relatively tidy having had a good wash recently.
We also finished the base of the wheelpit to a standard that would grace a rustic farmhouse kitchen floor. The job was made easier as the expected inflow of water had been sealed by last weeks work.
Masonry work was carried out in preparation for the completion of the upper basin wall on the tucking mill side.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Ian Harrison - 21st September 2022
Despite being a bit low on numbers, but without the previous days rain, we made good progress this week on several fronts:
Despite being a bit low on numbers, but without the previous days rain, we made good progress this week on several fronts:
- rebuilding the basin wall opposite the tucking mill.
- investigating a structure (possibly a small furnace hearth or a sluice) on the towpath between the canal bank and the tucking mill.
- placing more of the slate base to the wheel-pit.
- preservation of the tucking mill steps.
- identifying what appeared to be a wiggling thread (turned out to be a Horsehair Worm!)
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New navvies are always welcome either at Rosemoor on Wednesdays and/or Sea Lock on Tuesdays - no special skills required! Please contact Ian Harrison on 07557 478371 for more information.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Ian Harrison with photos by Michael Elliott - 14th September 2022
In fine weather work was carried out clearing the bed of the canal of invasive weeds and it looks much better for it. Work continued on surfacing the bed of the waterwheel spillway including dealing with some leaks by diverting them down the side.
In fine weather work was carried out clearing the bed of the canal of invasive weeds and it looks much better for it. Work continued on surfacing the bed of the waterwheel spillway including dealing with some leaks by diverting them down the side.
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Work also continued on the masonry wall opposite the tucking mill where we appear to have unearthed the remains of a bridge abutment that is shown on old maps.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 7th September 2022
The team assembled at Rosemoor in decidedly gloomy conditions this week but thankfully the rain held off so we were able to put in a good shift on site. The recent heavy rain has caused the water level in the canal to rise slightly although not enough to impede our work.
The rain – welcome as it is – unfortunately caused a major problem with the laying of further flagstones in the tucking mill spillway. As a result of the rising water table, we found a steady inflow of water emerging from either side of the spillway and ponding in the area where we wanted to work. Efforts were made to siphon the water off but the flow proved too strong so we were unable to lay further stones. We therefore decided to cut some more stones to fit the spillway bed and hope to lay these next week if conditions are drier. If not, we may have to seal the leaks with some fast-setting cement to allow work to continue.
The team assembled at Rosemoor in decidedly gloomy conditions this week but thankfully the rain held off so we were able to put in a good shift on site. The recent heavy rain has caused the water level in the canal to rise slightly although not enough to impede our work.
The rain – welcome as it is – unfortunately caused a major problem with the laying of further flagstones in the tucking mill spillway. As a result of the rising water table, we found a steady inflow of water emerging from either side of the spillway and ponding in the area where we wanted to work. Efforts were made to siphon the water off but the flow proved too strong so we were unable to lay further stones. We therefore decided to cut some more stones to fit the spillway bed and hope to lay these next week if conditions are drier. If not, we may have to seal the leaks with some fast-setting cement to allow work to continue.
Siphoning water from the spillway
Work on spillway
In the upper basin we did some further exploratory digging around the stone pillar uncovered last week although this yielded no conclusive results. We are interested to see if the wall of the basin continues toward this point or whether it terminates at what we think is the bridge pier.
Exploration around stone pillar
Excavating possible smelting pit
In the tucking mill, we continue to excavate the area around the possible smelting pit and have revealed further signs of a rough cobbled floor. We are still unsure of the true purpose of this strange feature. We have also made a start on reconstructing the foundations of the rear wall of the mill building. Fortunately, we have plenty of good building stone to hand, unearthed after many months of excavation, so we are confident of making good progress in this area.
Rebuilding tucking mill foundations
Working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting in the main car park at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington at 9.30am. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) for more information.
BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF! - Sea Lock report for the web by Adrian Wills - 5th September 2022
Practising my usual early morning routine, I walked from my house down to the site of the Sea Lock today (05.09.22) to see what’s new. Sure enough things were not how I had last left them. I was astonished and intrigued to see that the scaffolding I had recently altered had been significantly modified overnight. And not only that, the quality of engineering was breath-taking!
Practising my usual early morning routine, I walked from my house down to the site of the Sea Lock today (05.09.22) to see what’s new. Sure enough things were not how I had last left them. I was astonished and intrigued to see that the scaffolding I had recently altered had been significantly modified overnight. And not only that, the quality of engineering was breath-taking!
As happens regularly as we are entering the season of mellow mists and Autumnal fruitfulness, spiders’ webs appear in great profusion. Dew from the early morning mists gets trapped in minute beads on the webs catching sunlight like tiny jewels. A few spiders had obviously come to the conclusion that my scaffolding wasn’t up to much, so they extended it with great precision and elegance. The structural creations of these little creatures, love them or hate them, are wondrous to behold. |
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BUSY BEES - Sea Lock Walks report by Adrian Wills - 5th September 2022
The site of Sea Lock has been buzzing with activity over the past couple of days.
On Saturday afternoon (03.09.22) 54 people congregated at Annery for the beginning of a guided walk down to the lock chamber. This group was a mixture of RC&NDWS members and others from the general public. Being such a large number, it was decided to split the group into two, one led by me and the other by my wife, Hilary.
The site of Sea Lock has been buzzing with activity over the past couple of days.
On Saturday afternoon (03.09.22) 54 people congregated at Annery for the beginning of a guided walk down to the lock chamber. This group was a mixture of RC&NDWS members and others from the general public. Being such a large number, it was decided to split the group into two, one led by me and the other by my wife, Hilary.
Fortunately, we had several of the RC&NDWS committee members present so they were able to assist where and when necessary, and for which their help was greatly appreciated. All those who participated showed a great deal of interest and asked appropriate questions.
On Sunday (04.09.22) a much smaller group of 13 assembled at Annery for a similar experience. These were exclusively members of the Devonshire Association which had held its presidential conference in Bideford on Friday. This group also took great interest in what they saw and what they were told.
Although both days had moments of rainfall it was not too much. Cups of tea, coffee and home-made cookies presented at the end of both walks were greatly appreciated and we received some very complimentary remarks from a number of people on both the day’s events.
On Sunday (04.09.22) a much smaller group of 13 assembled at Annery for a similar experience. These were exclusively members of the Devonshire Association which had held its presidential conference in Bideford on Friday. This group also took great interest in what they saw and what they were told.
Although both days had moments of rainfall it was not too much. Cups of tea, coffee and home-made cookies presented at the end of both walks were greatly appreciated and we received some very complimentary remarks from a number of people on both the day’s events.
Lots more photos can be seen in the slideshow below...