March News
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 26th March 2025
We arrived at Ridd this week in glorious Spring sunshine and set to work to further explore the route of the canal south of the incline.
We arrived at Ridd this week in glorious Spring sunshine and set to work to further explore the route of the canal south of the incline.
Traces of wall near Tarka Trail
After further scrub bashing, the big surprise of the morning was the discovery of a substantial wall a few metres beyond the area we investigated last week. This was badly overgrown with ivy but, once this had been removed, we found that the stonework was in remarkably good condition. It soon became apparent that this was indeed the bridge which originally spanned the canal. This discovery meant that we had to revise our theory about the section of wall we found last week which we thought might be the bridge. It now seems that this is just another stretch of retaining wall which may have supported the lane up from the lime kilns at Ridd. It is likely this would have traversed the side of the valley in a fairly straight line directly up to the bridge which crossed the canal at a 45º angle. There are, however, other sections of wall in this area which we can make no sense of. Apparently, there was a small hamlet here so these may be the remains of a few small cottages situated adjacent to the Hunter’s Inn.
Retaining wall
Retaining wall showing return
Bridge wall before ivy removed
Bridge wall with ivy removed
We are unsure about the traces of the wall we uncovered last week on the east side of the Tarka Trail as these do not seem to follow the expected line of the canal. We now think that these may be the remains of a dwelling or outbuilding but this is pure speculation. The canal is slowly giving up its secrets but, as is so often the case, is posing more questions than answers!
Parapet of bridge
Cleared wall of Hunter's Inn
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
SEA LOCK RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 25th March 2025
The end is nigh (in a positive way)! After many months of dedicated work, the Sea Lock team is close to completing the reconstruction of the upper wharf wall. The base masonry is almost finished and foreman Steve is in the process of constructing an elegant stone pillar to mark what we believe to be the end of the original wall. Five copers have been cast and are ready to be lifted into position once we have the Kubota back from repair. We estimate a further eight will be needed to cap off the rest of the wall. We also spent time pointing in some of the stonework laid earlier.
The end is nigh (in a positive way)! After many months of dedicated work, the Sea Lock team is close to completing the reconstruction of the upper wharf wall. The base masonry is almost finished and foreman Steve is in the process of constructing an elegant stone pillar to mark what we believe to be the end of the original wall. Five copers have been cast and are ready to be lifted into position once we have the Kubota back from repair. We estimate a further eight will be needed to cap off the rest of the wall. We also spent time pointing in some of the stonework laid earlier.
View of final section of wall
Final section of masonry
Almost ready for capping off
Masonry pointed in
It is very satisfying to look along this section of the rebuilt wall – which is approximately 100 metres in length - and which now gives a real indication of the extent of the tidal lock and how it must have looked when the canal was fully operational.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 19th March 2025
We returned to Ridd this week to carry out further restoration work. Having done as much as we can for the moment at the top of the incline, we decided to try to find the route of the canal beyond the section we have already exposed south of the wheel pit. The canal here seems to curve to the east towards the river (crossing what is now the Tarka Trail) and then curve back again in a shallow S bend. We started by doing some exploratory digging just off the Tarka Trail and soon came across traces of what might be the wall of the canal. The stone is certainly in the right place although it could be the remains of an old outbuilding.
We returned to Ridd this week to carry out further restoration work. Having done as much as we can for the moment at the top of the incline, we decided to try to find the route of the canal beyond the section we have already exposed south of the wheel pit. The canal here seems to curve to the east towards the river (crossing what is now the Tarka Trail) and then curve back again in a shallow S bend. We started by doing some exploratory digging just off the Tarka Trail and soon came across traces of what might be the wall of the canal. The stone is certainly in the right place although it could be the remains of an old outbuilding.
Canal south of wheelpit
The exploration starts
Traces of wall
Other members of the team explored the area behind the remains of the former Hunters Inn and came across some old stonework which might be evidence of an embankment or retaining wall. We know that, at this point, there was a bridge spanning the canal which was probably part of a route up from the lime kilns at Ridd and which would also have provided access to the Inn from the Torrington road. From the embankment there is a clear line of sight to Ridd cottage and the gentle gradient up from river level would have made a manageable pack horse track. After further scrub bashing, we came across a substantial piece of masonry which might be evidence of the old bridge although it is very difficult to make sense of the layout here. The site is certainly posing a number of interesting questions which we hope to throw some light on in the coming weeks.
Hunters Inn
Rear of Hunters Inn
Evidence of embankment
Footnote: this work falls outside the scope of the original restoration project but we feel it is worth pursuing as it may reveal further interesting features of the canal. We are also aware that we are now at the start of the bird nesting season and are keeping any clearance work to a minimum.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 12th March 2025
Having completed most of the planned work on the lower section of the canal at Ridd, we returned to the top of the incline this week to carry out some routine maintenance.
Having completed most of the planned work on the lower section of the canal at Ridd, we returned to the top of the incline this week to carry out some routine maintenance.
Removing brash
There was a substantial amount of brash remaining from our last working party and from the tree felling last December. Some of the team spent the morning burning this while the rest set to work to try to locate a gas pipeline which runs under the upper incline to serve Ridd Cottage. (We know this is the case as a previous working party found it some 15 years ago but memories are now a little hazy!) We were anxious to find the pipe as we intend to bring an excavator to the site in the near future to scrape the surface of the incline to create a uniform slope from the Tarka Trail to the edge of Ridd Lane. Clearly, knowing the route of the pipeline would be a great help in avoiding any unnecessary accidents! (Wales and West Utilities had kindly provided us with a plan of the area but this only shows the line of the main pipeline along the Tarka Trail – no indication of any supply to Ridd Cottage). In what became an interesting piece of work to rival anything on Time Team, we dug an exploratory trench down the middle of the incline but were unable to find any evidence of a spur pipeline. We did, however, find an interesting brick structure just off the incline which housed what seemed to be a redundant gas regulator – possible evidence of the original supply to Ridd Cottage although its orientation relative to the cottage is odd. As ever, this raised more questions than answers. The work was not entirely fruitless as we know that the pipe must be safely buried at a depth which will allow the planned profiling work to be safely carried out.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Digging the exploratory trench
Exploratory trench on upper incline
Redundant gas regulator
Boundary wall of upper pound
SEA LOCK RESTORATION REPORT by Michael Elliott - 11th March 2025
Last week six coping stones had been laid, but the absence of the Kubota for repair meant the team concentrated on other tasks. After the morning, the stripping down of the hard wall for rebuilding was more or less complete. More of the wall was also rebuilt ready for more coping stones, and a further two copers were cast. After lunch more scaffolding was to be taken down: there is no room for any more, so the end really is in sight!
Last week six coping stones had been laid, but the absence of the Kubota for repair meant the team concentrated on other tasks. After the morning, the stripping down of the hard wall for rebuilding was more or less complete. More of the wall was also rebuilt ready for more coping stones, and a further two copers were cast. After lunch more scaffolding was to be taken down: there is no room for any more, so the end really is in sight!
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RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 5th March 2025
We regrouped at Ridd this week with a full team of volunteers on a chilly, slightly misty morning. However, after an hour or so, the sun broke through to usher in a wonderful Spring day.
While we were working at Furzebeam, we employed our local tree surgeon to do some further work at Ridd by cutting up all the fallen trees along the lower canal into manageable sections. These sections we placed along the side of the towpath from the flood embankment to a point close to the former stable block which helps to better define the line of the canal. There was also a considerable mountain of brash to be burned which required two separate fires to dispose of it. We have now cleared approximately 100 metres of the canal bed. If you compare the photos taken from January onwards with the site as it now presents you can see the remarkable transformation that has taken place – a tribute to the unstinting work of our volunteers.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
We regrouped at Ridd this week with a full team of volunteers on a chilly, slightly misty morning. However, after an hour or so, the sun broke through to usher in a wonderful Spring day.
While we were working at Furzebeam, we employed our local tree surgeon to do some further work at Ridd by cutting up all the fallen trees along the lower canal into manageable sections. These sections we placed along the side of the towpath from the flood embankment to a point close to the former stable block which helps to better define the line of the canal. There was also a considerable mountain of brash to be burned which required two separate fires to dispose of it. We have now cleared approximately 100 metres of the canal bed. If you compare the photos taken from January onwards with the site as it now presents you can see the remarkable transformation that has taken place – a tribute to the unstinting work of our volunteers.
Working parties are currently being held at 9.30am every Wednesday. Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.07557 478371) for more information.
Getting the bonfire started
Second bonfire under way
Laying the tree sections
Canal looking north
Canal looking south
Navvies' coffee break
View from stable block
SEA LOCK RESTORATION REPORT by Michael Elliott - 4th March 2025
On arriving at Sea Lock, the tide was very high and had covered the lower scaffolding planks. It was a beautiful scene. At last the weather had been dry enough to drive the Kubota along the track to lift coping stones into place. Four were laid in the morning, and a further two in the afternoon. That leaves three more coping stones ‘in stock’ to lay next. Unfortunately the Kubota is difficult to start so will be going off for some tender loving care shortly. The team continued to strip down and build up the wharf wall ready for laying more coping stones. A good section of wall is ready to receive them. A lot of soil was removed from the last section of wall, and a further section dismantled down to a firm foundation.
On arriving at Sea Lock, the tide was very high and had covered the lower scaffolding planks. It was a beautiful scene. At last the weather had been dry enough to drive the Kubota along the track to lift coping stones into place. Four were laid in the morning, and a further two in the afternoon. That leaves three more coping stones ‘in stock’ to lay next. Unfortunately the Kubota is difficult to start so will be going off for some tender loving care shortly. The team continued to strip down and build up the wharf wall ready for laying more coping stones. A good section of wall is ready to receive them. A lot of soil was removed from the last section of wall, and a further section dismantled down to a firm foundation.
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