November News
FURZEBEAM REPORT by Mickey Reynolds - 29th November 2023
Today our band of 4 set about replacing the chicken wire on the remaining bridge, vegetation clearance and the removal of a fallen tree. We achieved quite a lot all things considered.
Today our band of 4 set about replacing the chicken wire on the remaining bridge, vegetation clearance and the removal of a fallen tree. We achieved quite a lot all things considered.
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BACK TO THE WALL! - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 29th November 2023
After a considerable length of time had passed, work at Sea Lock on the upper wharf wall resumed on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023. Despite the fact that winter had had an already detrimental effect on reconstruction projects, the weather on this day was benign and allowed the skeleton crew of Steve, Nick and me to make a great impression on the rebuilding of this section of wall.
After a considerable length of time had passed, work at Sea Lock on the upper wharf wall resumed on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023. Despite the fact that winter had had an already detrimental effect on reconstruction projects, the weather on this day was benign and allowed the skeleton crew of Steve, Nick and me to make a great impression on the rebuilding of this section of wall.
Before breaking for a long-planned holiday for my wife and me, I had cast 5 more blocks to top the wall. Therefore, the first task of the day was to move them over to where they were to be laid. Initially the Kubota tractor, which had not been run for quite some time, was not too keen on starting but eventually Nick was able to get it going and drive it over to where the blocks were waiting. He and Steve hitched up a couple of them and trundled them over to the wall. In the meantime, I was brushing off the accumulated debris of fallen leaves and twigs that had been deposited on the scaffold boards by time and tides.
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Whilst Steve levelled up the newly placed blocks, Nick kept him supplied with mortar and concrete. I then turned my attention to a tree stump which had grown in the wall where we were next to repair. With Nick applying a little brute strength and ignorance, between us we were able to yank it out. Needless to say, this resulted in producing a lot of loose and displaced masonry which I then began sort out. Another large void has now to be filled!
By the end of the day, all 5 copers had been laid and mortared into place. I had finished sorting the gap where the stump had been and started extending the scaffold lift to where we next want to work. Our stock of cement and hydraulic lime was exhausted and so were we, but a very successful day’s progress had been achieved and we were well satisfied. |
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ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 22nd November 2023
A significant milestone was achieved last week with the final capping off of the lime kiln wall. The gentle slope of the concrete cap will allow rainwater to run off and protect the stonework beneath. This marked the culmination of many months of hard work rebuilding the badly degraded wall. (Sadly, there was no champagne on site to celebrate the occasion….) We now need to move the scaffolding along several feet to enable us to re-build the damaged corner of the kiln. This is essential as, if not repaired, it will compromise the integrity of the repaired wall – a risk we do not want to take after all our labour!
A significant milestone was achieved last week with the final capping off of the lime kiln wall. The gentle slope of the concrete cap will allow rainwater to run off and protect the stonework beneath. This marked the culmination of many months of hard work rebuilding the badly degraded wall. (Sadly, there was no champagne on site to celebrate the occasion….) We now need to move the scaffolding along several feet to enable us to re-build the damaged corner of the kiln. This is essential as, if not repaired, it will compromise the integrity of the repaired wall – a risk we do not want to take after all our labour!
Capped wall of lime kiln
This week, our first task was to drain the canal in preparation for capping the east wall of the upper basin. It will be much easier to carry out this work from the canal bed. Thankfully, we were able to release the bung in the upper basin without difficulty and the water level soon started to drop revealing a band of bright green weed along the wall.
Canal draining
Elsewhere, we carried out some much-needed clearance of vegetation which had overgrown large parts of both the upper and lower basin. It was important to expose the top of the upper basin wall to allow us to assemble the wooden shuttering for the capping, a task we hope to undertake next week. Other members of the team made a great job of weeding the chamber adjacent to the lime kiln and cutting back the laurels shrouding the upper basin wall. Over recent years these had become thoroughly enmeshed with creepers of ‘Old Man’s Beard’ which made the task doubly difficult. Eventually, however, the wall of the basin – which hasn’t seen the light of day since we rebuilt it in 2019 – was revealed. It was a satisfying reminder of how the basin will look when fully restored.
Upper basin
Overgrown wall of upper basin (before)
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Overgrown wall of upper basin (after)
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Chamber after weed removal
Wall of lower basin after clearing
Working parties are generally 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.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Ian Harrison - 15th November 2023
No rain this week as we continued to work towards completing the limekiln wall above the big arch by placing a capping layer of concrete and making good the boundary with the top of the kilns behind. Soon we will be moving onto the adjacent corner buttress but the scaffold will need to be moved for this.
No rain this week as we continued to work towards completing the limekiln wall above the big arch by placing a capping layer of concrete and making good the boundary with the top of the kilns behind. Soon we will be moving onto the adjacent corner buttress but the scaffold will need to be moved for this.
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We also carried out some preparation for the new towpath between the bund and the tucking mill and carried out necessary vegetation control.
Work parties take place every Wednesday - all welcome!
Work parties take place every Wednesday - all welcome!
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ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 8th November 2023
Back to work on the lime kiln this week. We were fortunate to have a dry if rather overcast day so working conditions were good. We laid another course of stone to reach the planned finish level of the wall and then proceeded to batter back the top of the wall with a slight slope to provide a supporting barrier against the earth which has accumulated on top of the kiln over the years. In front of the batter we have started to cap off the wall with a layer of concrete. This will be extended along the entire length and will help to protect the wall against water ingress. Once this is done, the repair of the wall will be complete – a major achievement given the scale of the damage. Our final task on the kiln will be to reconstruct the north west corner of the building which is in poor condition. This will help to secure the repaired masonry and prevent further degradation of the structure.
Back to work on the lime kiln this week. We were fortunate to have a dry if rather overcast day so working conditions were good. We laid another course of stone to reach the planned finish level of the wall and then proceeded to batter back the top of the wall with a slight slope to provide a supporting barrier against the earth which has accumulated on top of the kiln over the years. In front of the batter we have started to cap off the wall with a layer of concrete. This will be extended along the entire length and will help to protect the wall against water ingress. Once this is done, the repair of the wall will be complete – a major achievement given the scale of the damage. Our final task on the kiln will be to reconstruct the north west corner of the building which is in poor condition. This will help to secure the repaired masonry and prevent further degradation of the structure.
Wall at finished level
Batter at top of wall
Capping off the wall
Working parties are generally 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.