May News
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 29th May 2024
We split our workforce again this week with some volunteers going to Rosemoor and the rest to Ridd.
At Ridd we concentrated our efforts on the top of the incline and carried out further scrub clearance building on the excellent work done last week. We successfully cut back the rest of the invasive vegetation along the top of the boundary wall of the canal which is now looking in really good shape.
We split our workforce again this week with some volunteers going to Rosemoor and the rest to Ridd.
At Ridd we concentrated our efforts on the top of the incline and carried out further scrub clearance building on the excellent work done last week. We successfully cut back the rest of the invasive vegetation along the top of the boundary wall of the canal which is now looking in really good shape.
Scrub bashing on top of boundary wall
Cleared boundary wall at top of plane
A little exploratory digging reveals that much of the original stonework is still in place although not – as was expected - in the greatest condition.
Exposed stonework
The whole clearance process was greatly speeded up with the assistance of our new ‘toy’ – a recently purchased wheeled petrol strimmer. This piece of kit is ideal for cutting through large areas of grass and light scrub and is much less tiring than wielding a conventional strimmer. This was its first trial and we used it to trim the verges at the top of the incline and on the incline itself. The verdict? A definite thumbs-up from the operators!
Clearing the top of the incline
Incline after clearing
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday morning at Ridd and at Rosemoor. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.
SAME OLD, SAME OLD BUT NOT QUITE! - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 29th May 2024
It was a grey, gloomy and dismal start to May 28th 2024, with a quite heavy and persistent drizzle falling. I debated whether to contact the Tuesday volunteers and cancel work at Sea Lock for the day, but I was eventually pleased that I didn’t. It was still raining when Nick and Jeremy arrived (glowing resplendently in their bright orange hi-viz clothes) but it was easing and by the time we had walked to the site it had more or less stopped. While Nick used the Kubota to pick up one of the two copers I had cast a few days before and trundled it over to where it was to be set on the wall, Jeremy was fixing a ladder to a tree, which had a broken branch. This branch was hanging down and generally getting in the way. It had to go! Unfortunately, the damage to the tree was caused by me when I got the jib of the smaller crawler crane snagged on it when moving some copers last week. Tony arrived and steadied the ladder whilst Jeremy scuttled up it and sawed off the offending branch.
It was a grey, gloomy and dismal start to May 28th 2024, with a quite heavy and persistent drizzle falling. I debated whether to contact the Tuesday volunteers and cancel work at Sea Lock for the day, but I was eventually pleased that I didn’t. It was still raining when Nick and Jeremy arrived (glowing resplendently in their bright orange hi-viz clothes) but it was easing and by the time we had walked to the site it had more or less stopped. While Nick used the Kubota to pick up one of the two copers I had cast a few days before and trundled it over to where it was to be set on the wall, Jeremy was fixing a ladder to a tree, which had a broken branch. This branch was hanging down and generally getting in the way. It had to go! Unfortunately, the damage to the tree was caused by me when I got the jib of the smaller crawler crane snagged on it when moving some copers last week. Tony arrived and steadied the ladder whilst Jeremy scuttled up it and sawed off the offending branch.
During this time I was preparing to rebuild some more stonework. I had spent a couple of hours a day or two before removing loose masonry and had created quite a hole. One loose stone was far too big and heavy to be lifted by hand but I managed to lever it up and attach a lifting strop to it so that we could hoist it off later on. Steve had had another commitment earlier in the day but joined us just at the right moment to put the kettle on.
Following a break for coffee, I continued wall building, Steve mortared into place the coper which Jeremy and Nick had set on the wall whilst Tony carried on removing loose masonry and debris. Having obviously developed a liking for it, Jeremy returned to the task of filling gaps between stones and generally repointing them.
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Although Nick had transported the second coper to nearby where it was to be laid, that section of wall had not been rebuilt to its finished height so the coper was temporarily set aside. More need to be cast soon. Never-the-less when we finished working for the day significant progress was clear to see and the weather had cheered up considerably. Once again, we were well pleased with our efforts.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Michael Elliott - 22nd May 2024
With most of the working party at Ridd, the Rosemoor working party was once again reduced to a core team of three volunteers. The resident robin seemed to be replaced by a wren making a nest in one of the timber holes in the lime kiln wall. After stone-cutting with the angle-grinder and raising the scaffolding, the team set to, mixing mortar and laying stone work on the corner of the lime kiln. Good progress was made and two more weeks of progress at the same rate should see this work completed. The side and back walls of the limekiln are another story…
With most of the working party at Ridd, the Rosemoor working party was once again reduced to a core team of three volunteers. The resident robin seemed to be replaced by a wren making a nest in one of the timber holes in the lime kiln wall. After stone-cutting with the angle-grinder and raising the scaffolding, the team set to, mixing mortar and laying stone work on the corner of the lime kiln. Good progress was made and two more weeks of progress at the same rate should see this work completed. The side and back walls of the limekiln are another story…
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Working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting at 9.30am. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) for more information.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Ian Harrison - 22nd May 2024
Today in great weather conditions we worked at the top of the inclined plane, doing more work to tidy up the wheel pit entrance and started to clear vegetation on the wall beside the former docking bays. We are hoping to complete this work next week.
Today in great weather conditions we worked at the top of the inclined plane, doing more work to tidy up the wheel pit entrance and started to clear vegetation on the wall beside the former docking bays. We are hoping to complete this work next week.
STILL HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 22nd May 2024
There were five of us working at Sea Lock on Tuesday 21st May 2024 and much progress was made. While Nick began mixing mortar, Steve and Jeremy hitched up with lifting strops, the two copers I had cast a few days earlier, so that I could pick them up using the Priestman crane and carry them over to where they were to be laid. I had decided that this would be an easier and quicker method of moving them than using the Kubota tractor. The crane had other ideas and decided that it didn’t want to cooperate. Whilst the engine started up nicely and was running sweetly, steering and driving the machine proved to be another matter.
There were five of us working at Sea Lock on Tuesday 21st May 2024 and much progress was made. While Nick began mixing mortar, Steve and Jeremy hitched up with lifting strops, the two copers I had cast a few days earlier, so that I could pick them up using the Priestman crane and carry them over to where they were to be laid. I had decided that this would be an easier and quicker method of moving them than using the Kubota tractor. The crane had other ideas and decided that it didn’t want to cooperate. Whilst the engine started up nicely and was running sweetly, steering and driving the machine proved to be another matter.
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For some reason it really didn’t want to drive. To confound the situation, just short of where I wanted to get the crane, over-hanging tree branches got snagged in the boom. Eventually, with Jeremy acting as banksman (someone responsible for directing the operation of a crane) the blocks were laid in place. Steve had readied the place where they eventually ended up and began mortaring them in. Nick had been sitting patiently waiting all this time with a load of mortar that he couldn’t deliver because the crane was in the way and I think he may have fallen asleep!
Having finally delivered the copers I returned the crane to its parking place but it still put up a fight. Michael had arrived by this time and he continued demolishing loose walling at the end of the scaffold lift.
Having finally delivered the copers I returned the crane to its parking place but it still put up a fight. Michael had arrived by this time and he continued demolishing loose walling at the end of the scaffold lift.
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By now it was just about time for a coffee break so I washed out the mugs and switched the kettle on. Following our coffee break, Michael and I began the process of dismantling the section of scaffold that we had finished using, and reassembling it at the other end. So, we joined Jeremy down in the gloop. He was continuing the task he started last week of repointing gaps in the wall, which had been below the level of the scaffold platform. At one point Michael got one of his wellies well and truly stuck in the mud but, fortunately, did finally manage to extricate himself. Later, Nick helped me finish extending the scaffold.
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We had been blessed with fine weather and by the end of the day, we had extended the scaffold by another 4 metres, sorted out some loose masonry, bedded two more copers and rebuilt some more wall.
Apart from the difficulties encountered with the crane, (I shall be having a very serious conversation with it shortly!) this was another very productive, satisfying day and progress is clear to see.
Apart from the difficulties encountered with the crane, (I shall be having a very serious conversation with it shortly!) this was another very productive, satisfying day and progress is clear to see.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Michael Elliott - 15th May 2024
This week the team moved to Rosemoor, reinforced by new volunteer Jeremy. The mowing and strimming started last week was completed, and the tucking mill site received a good weeding. Hopefully Rosemoor will apply weed-killer soon to the more suborn weeds. Meanwhile, good progress continued on rebuilding the corner of the lime kiln. Next week a core team will return to Rosemoor to raise the scaffolding while the majority will return to Ridd.
Working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting at 9.30am. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) for more information.
This week the team moved to Rosemoor, reinforced by new volunteer Jeremy. The mowing and strimming started last week was completed, and the tucking mill site received a good weeding. Hopefully Rosemoor will apply weed-killer soon to the more suborn weeds. Meanwhile, good progress continued on rebuilding the corner of the lime kiln. Next week a core team will return to Rosemoor to raise the scaffolding while the majority will return to Ridd.
Working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting at 9.30am. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) for more information.
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MOVING ON A PACE - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 15th May 2024
The weather couldn’t quite make up its mind as to what it wanted to do on Tuesday 14th May 2024 but at its worst the work gang at Sea Lock experienced only some very slight and short showers of rain. Joined by Steve and Nick as usual, I was pleased to welcome a new volunteer, Jeremy. Starting off the day, Steve drove the Fergie tractor with its trailer over to where we had been working and then he and Jeremy loaded some more stone which was getting in the way onto it. Nick and I spent a few moments swopping the digging bucket for the grading bucket on to the Kubota’s back hoe. While Nick was scraping some soil away from the back of the wall where two more copers were later to be laid, we were joined by Michael, who got out the cement mixer and prepared a batch of mortar.
The weather couldn’t quite make up its mind as to what it wanted to do on Tuesday 14th May 2024 but at its worst the work gang at Sea Lock experienced only some very slight and short showers of rain. Joined by Steve and Nick as usual, I was pleased to welcome a new volunteer, Jeremy. Starting off the day, Steve drove the Fergie tractor with its trailer over to where we had been working and then he and Jeremy loaded some more stone which was getting in the way onto it. Nick and I spent a few moments swopping the digging bucket for the grading bucket on to the Kubota’s back hoe. While Nick was scraping some soil away from the back of the wall where two more copers were later to be laid, we were joined by Michael, who got out the cement mixer and prepared a batch of mortar.
Nick and I hitched up one of the copers and he transported it over to the wall. He and Steve then spent time levelling it up and mortaring it into place. I was enjoying myself rebuilding a section of the face of the wall. Further along Michael was happily knocking it down (only the loose stuff). Jeremy spent most of the day sitting down on the job but, as they say, “You can’t get the staff!” Actually, he was working hard at repointing some of the large gaps in the wall below the scaffold platform. A tedious and not terribly comfortable occupation but very necessary. By the end of the day both copers had been laid, quite a bit more facing had been rebuilt and a lot of repointing had been done. This was a very satisfying and productive day’s work by us and just to ‘put the cherry on the top’, the contractor arrived with his excavator and began removing some of the dredging heaps that he had left to dry out last time he was on site.
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Whilst there is still a considerable length of wall to repair and a lot of spoils to be dredged out, very satisfying headway has been made.
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ANNERY KILN TO RIDD INCLINED PLANE GUIDED WALK - Report by Mike Harper - 12th May 2024
The first of this year’s Rolle Canal Society Summer walks took place in glorious Spring weather. The walk was led by Tony Nicholls, the project leader of the project to restore, where possible, the line of the inclined plane.
Standing on Halfpenny Bridge where the Weare Giffard road crosses the river Torridge, Tony gave an excellent summary of the canal pointing further downstream to Sea Lock where the canal met the tidal river. The group was then taken across the fields alongside the line of the canal to Ridd, where the inclined plane raised the canal to its summit level.
The first of this year’s Rolle Canal Society Summer walks took place in glorious Spring weather. The walk was led by Tony Nicholls, the project leader of the project to restore, where possible, the line of the inclined plane.
Standing on Halfpenny Bridge where the Weare Giffard road crosses the river Torridge, Tony gave an excellent summary of the canal pointing further downstream to Sea Lock where the canal met the tidal river. The group was then taken across the fields alongside the line of the canal to Ridd, where the inclined plane raised the canal to its summit level.
Halfpenny Bridge
With his Project Manager’s hat on, Tony was able to explain what the restoration project was trying to achieve. Starting at the lower level and then moving up some 40’ to the higher level, where the group was shown the top of the wheelpit and then, the usually hidden personnel entrance.
The stable block at the bottom of the inclined plane
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The wheelpit at the top of the inclined plane
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Inspecting the personnel entrance to the wheelpit
A great walk with people of all ages enjoying the weather and the history of some of the interesting features of the Rolle Canal.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 8th May 2024
With the sap rising and vegetation threatening to run riot, it was agreed that we would go to Rosemoor this week for a bout of sustained scrub-bashing while our masons continued with repairs to the lime kiln.
With the sap rising and vegetation threatening to run riot, it was agreed that we would go to Rosemoor this week for a bout of sustained scrub-bashing while our masons continued with repairs to the lime kiln.
View of canal from scaffold
We spent the morning strimming the towpath along the lower basin and adjacent to the tucking mill. Both these areas were becoming badly overgrown and needed attention. At the same time, we made a start mowing the ‘lawn’ in front of the lime kiln. This has become badly infested with weeds over the winter and was looking decidedly tatty. While this was taking place, another member of the team spent several hours on hands and knees weeding the gravel path by the lower basin and restoring a nice neat edge to the grassed area – painstaking work but well worth doing. It is amazing how much better the site looks after just one session of mowing and weeding.
Towpath before strimming
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Towpath after strimming
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While all this was happening, our masons continued with the re-build of the badly damaged corner of the lime kiln. It is only when you get close to the wall that you start to appreciate the extent of the stone loss. The repair work involved is substantial and getting stone up to the higher level is not easy. However, work is progressing well and a further four feet of the corner was reconstructed during the course of the morning.
View of rebuilt buttress
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Corner of wall to be repaired
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Weeding in progress
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A well-manicured pathway
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Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday morning at Ridd and at Rosemoor. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237-475707) for more information.
GOOD DAY, SUNSHINE! - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 8th May 2024
It was bright, dry and sunny when Nick and Tony joined me in the morning of Tuesday, 7th May 2024, ready to get some work done at Sea Lock. What a difference to last Tuesday’s weather when we got soaked!
Despite being a very limited crew, (minus Steve and Michael who were otherwise committed), we managed to achieve a great deal.
It was bright, dry and sunny when Nick and Tony joined me in the morning of Tuesday, 7th May 2024, ready to get some work done at Sea Lock. What a difference to last Tuesday’s weather when we got soaked!
Despite being a very limited crew, (minus Steve and Michael who were otherwise committed), we managed to achieve a great deal.
Tony initially set about clearing a load of brash from the side of the towpath to a place where it will later be burned. Nick prepared a batch of mortar and I got down on the scaffold and actually did some rebuilding. Later on, Tony joined me and set to removing and cleaning the next bit of wall to be repaired. Nick drove the Kubota almost to the end of the wharf wall and scraped off the overburden of soil and debris in preparation for its rebuilding but that’s a long way off yet, figuratively and literally.
One slight drawback of Nick’s efforts was the destruction of a considerable display of flowering Ramsoms or Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum). This resulted in a very powerful scent in the air which many people find unpleasant but I rather like. This plant, like its cultivated cousin (Allium sativum) is edible but is similar to several other plants, which are poisonous so great care has to be taken if picking some to eat.
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WITH APOLOGIES TO JOSE FELICIANO - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 2nd May 2024
Listen to the pouring rain, listen to it fall.
And with every drop of rain we stop working on the wall.
Sloppy mortar is no good
Facing stones don’t stay where they should.
Listen to the pouring rain, listen to it fall.
Tuesday 30th of April 2024 was not a good day for working outside. It was already a damp and gloomy start when Steve and Nick arrived ready to continue restoration at Sea Lock and as we set off walking towards the site, the rain began to fall with determination.
Hoping that it was going to ease, Nick prepared a batch of mortar for Steve to use and a different mix for me. A few days earlier I had put together two sets of shuttering to cast more copers which I wanted to fill.
Listen to the pouring rain, listen to it fall.
And with every drop of rain we stop working on the wall.
Sloppy mortar is no good
Facing stones don’t stay where they should.
Listen to the pouring rain, listen to it fall.
Tuesday 30th of April 2024 was not a good day for working outside. It was already a damp and gloomy start when Steve and Nick arrived ready to continue restoration at Sea Lock and as we set off walking towards the site, the rain began to fall with determination.
Hoping that it was going to ease, Nick prepared a batch of mortar for Steve to use and a different mix for me. A few days earlier I had put together two sets of shuttering to cast more copers which I wanted to fill.
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Steve battled with wet stones and mortar that was rapidly becoming quite liquid. Trying to lay stones on a bed of mortar which was doing its best to run down the surface of the wall, was proving to be very taxing.
Having filled the two moulds, we decided to have an early coffee break in the hope that the rain would blow over. There were moments which suggested that the rain was going to cease falling but this was not the case and by mid-day, despite wearing waterproof jackets, we were all wet and getting cold. Following an early lunch, we had had enough so covered over the new work with plastic, cleaned our tools and packed up for the day. Not a lot had been achieved but such is life!
Typically, as the afternoon progressed, the weather improved considerably but by that time, Steve and Nick had retired to their respective homes and I had gone to my home where I enjoyed a long, hot shower and a change into dry, warm clothes.
I hadn’t even taken any pictures except of the new copers!
Having filled the two moulds, we decided to have an early coffee break in the hope that the rain would blow over. There were moments which suggested that the rain was going to cease falling but this was not the case and by mid-day, despite wearing waterproof jackets, we were all wet and getting cold. Following an early lunch, we had had enough so covered over the new work with plastic, cleaned our tools and packed up for the day. Not a lot had been achieved but such is life!
Typically, as the afternoon progressed, the weather improved considerably but by that time, Steve and Nick had retired to their respective homes and I had gone to my home where I enjoyed a long, hot shower and a change into dry, warm clothes.
I hadn’t even taken any pictures except of the new copers!
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Mickey Reynolds - 1st May 2024
This week due to reduced numbers we concentrated our efforts with yet more ‘scrub bashing’ at Ridd.
Half the team tended to the area around the top of the incline, making the picnic bench just off the Tarka Trail easier to access which we used for its intended purpose in the sun.
The other half concentrated on the area at the bottom. Our first task was to be strengthening some rotten fence posts using some angle iron but the inquisitive calves in the neighbouring field had other ideas as they stood with their heads over said fence. The next task was to remove a couple of small trees, one of which had fallen at some point. We spent a great deal of time ‘bird nesting’ to check and recheck none had nested before removal.
This week due to reduced numbers we concentrated our efforts with yet more ‘scrub bashing’ at Ridd.
Half the team tended to the area around the top of the incline, making the picnic bench just off the Tarka Trail easier to access which we used for its intended purpose in the sun.
The other half concentrated on the area at the bottom. Our first task was to be strengthening some rotten fence posts using some angle iron but the inquisitive calves in the neighbouring field had other ideas as they stood with their heads over said fence. The next task was to remove a couple of small trees, one of which had fallen at some point. We spent a great deal of time ‘bird nesting’ to check and recheck none had nested before removal.
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Once this was complete the sound of the chainsaw persuaded the calves to let us work on the fence, although only briefly as they soon realised the noise wasn’t a threat and returned by which time the fence park was done.
By the time we were done a huge pile was left for our resident fire starter to deal with in a few weeks time after hedgehog checks are completed.
By the time we were done a huge pile was left for our resident fire starter to deal with in a few weeks time after hedgehog checks are completed.
