June News
ALWAYS SOMETHING IN THE WAY! - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 28th June 2024
On Wednesday June 26th 2024 I popped up to the local quarry to see what the situation there was. I had been told that the people who had been working it for many years were giving it up and others were taking over. When I arrived, just inside the gate was a pile of really good quality facing stone after which I lusted but was led to believe that it was already accounted for. Moving further into the quarry, I was somewhat surprised to see it still being worked by the original operators with whom I was well acquainted. It was obvious that they were unable to stop to speak to me at that time so I ‘phoned the boss in the evening. Explaining what I wanted I made comment about the stone inside the gateway and asked if I could have a couple of tons of similar quality as soon as possible and was even more surprised when I was told that I could have a load the following day. Great!
Having a couple of metres of wharf wall ready to accept coping stones, after my visit to the quarry I put shuttering together and cast another two. I was getting quite beside myself, hoping that on the following Tuesday when my volunteers were due to arrive we could set about laying the copers and maybe I could even cast a couple more beforehand. I was really trying hard to get ahead of the game.
On Wednesday June 26th 2024 I popped up to the local quarry to see what the situation there was. I had been told that the people who had been working it for many years were giving it up and others were taking over. When I arrived, just inside the gate was a pile of really good quality facing stone after which I lusted but was led to believe that it was already accounted for. Moving further into the quarry, I was somewhat surprised to see it still being worked by the original operators with whom I was well acquainted. It was obvious that they were unable to stop to speak to me at that time so I ‘phoned the boss in the evening. Explaining what I wanted I made comment about the stone inside the gateway and asked if I could have a couple of tons of similar quality as soon as possible and was even more surprised when I was told that I could have a load the following day. Great!
Having a couple of metres of wharf wall ready to accept coping stones, after my visit to the quarry I put shuttering together and cast another two. I was getting quite beside myself, hoping that on the following Tuesday when my volunteers were due to arrive we could set about laying the copers and maybe I could even cast a couple more beforehand. I was really trying hard to get ahead of the game.
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On Thursday morning I received a telephone call telling me that my delivery of stone was due to arrive within half an hour. I went down to Sea Lock to ensure that gates were unlocked and clear of obstacles. The stone duly arrived and the lorry was reversed up to where it was required; nearly, that is! Unfortunately, due to the unevenness of the towpath, the lorry couldn’t get all the way to where the stone was required due to potential difficulties in operating the tipper. The load was tipped as close as possible but in a position which is now preventing the delivery of the copers. Although some of the new stone will be used almost immediately, much of it will have to be laboriously moved further along the top of the wall by hand, ready for another day. So much for the best laid plans of……….! |
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RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 26th June 2024
We were very short-handed this week for our working party at Ridd so there were limits to what we could achieve. It was also a swelteringly hot day so we took good care to pace ourselves and keep well hydrated.
We were very short-handed this week for our working party at Ridd so there were limits to what we could achieve. It was also a swelteringly hot day so we took good care to pace ourselves and keep well hydrated.
Making a start on the boundary wall
Damaged section of wall
In the end we decided to spend the session clearing vegetation from the west boundary wall at the top of the incline. Our aim was to expose the stonework behind the overgrowth as this will help to clearly define the route of the canal beyond the upper docking bays. We were hoping that the stonework would be in reasonable condition but this, inevitably, proved to be over-optimistic. A large section of the wall has collapsed and a great deal of stone seems to have disappeared – probably ‘robbed’ by the railway during its construction. (Several pieces of railway ironwork were discovered during recent clearance work). However, the foundations of the wall are still evident and could provide a decent base for a future re-build – something we may tackle if we have the time and resources.
Exposed foundation of wall
Old railway artefacts
View from top of wheelpit
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.
WALLING UP AND WARMING UP - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 26th June 2024
It was a beautiful day at Sea Lock on Tuesday 26th June 2024. The weather was dry, bright and sunny with the temperature steadily rising throughout the day. The only drawback with this was that the mortar we were using was setting very quickly. With an initial work force slimmed down to Nick and I, we were shortly joined by Tony. Steve and Michael were otherwise involved elsewhere but that didn’t deter us from making very good progress. While Nick sorted out the cement mixer. I got out the Kubota tractor and hitched up the coper I had cast a few days previously. While I then sorted out a variety of tools, Nick drove the Kubota carrying the coper and a batch of mortar over to where we were restoring the wharf wall. Within a surprising short time, we had lowered the coper onto the wall and got it levelled up, with the minimum of effort. Soon it was mortared into place and I then turned my attention to rebuilding walling further along.
It was a beautiful day at Sea Lock on Tuesday 26th June 2024. The weather was dry, bright and sunny with the temperature steadily rising throughout the day. The only drawback with this was that the mortar we were using was setting very quickly. With an initial work force slimmed down to Nick and I, we were shortly joined by Tony. Steve and Michael were otherwise involved elsewhere but that didn’t deter us from making very good progress. While Nick sorted out the cement mixer. I got out the Kubota tractor and hitched up the coper I had cast a few days previously. While I then sorted out a variety of tools, Nick drove the Kubota carrying the coper and a batch of mortar over to where we were restoring the wharf wall. Within a surprising short time, we had lowered the coper onto the wall and got it levelled up, with the minimum of effort. Soon it was mortared into place and I then turned my attention to rebuilding walling further along.
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Tony continued the process of preparing the section he was working on for repair and by the time he had to leave, several metres were left in a state where, hopefully, all that is now required is a lot of repointing and no demolition.
Nick, apart from keeping me supplied with mortar and concrete, applied himself to a variety of tasks. He spent time levelling the top of the towpath where we will soon be working, and then set about repointing some of the lower sections of the wall. This is back-breaking work from the scaffold since the person doing the repointing has to kneel down or stoop to reach the necessary areas. Since the scaffolding here was no longer required, he changed tactics and began dismantling it. Although I did wonder a couple of times, if whether he was actually praying to Mecca. No disrespect intended.
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When neither Kubota nor cement mixer were running, work during the day progressed very quietly. It was somewhat strange not having Steve to melodiously entertain us while we worked! Nevertheless, the outcome was very productive and satisfying.
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MOVING ON AND RUNNING OUT - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 20th June 2024
Although there was only a ‘skeleton’ crew of volunteers working at Sea Lock on Tuesday, 18th June 2024, a lot was achieved and progress is clear to see. Steve, Nick and I quickly settled into our usual routine. Nick lowered a coper, which had been transported over last week, onto the wall and Steve began the process of lining it up and getting it level. Nick then got to grips with the cement mixer and soon had a batch of mortar delivered to where Steve and I were to apply it. I spent quite some time trying to sort out suitable stones for a very awkward cavity where the face of a large stone had previously flaked off leaving a very odd space to fill. I could have taken out the large stone and replaced it but that would have meant demolishing a lot of surrounding masonry which was otherwise quite sound.
Although there was only a ‘skeleton’ crew of volunteers working at Sea Lock on Tuesday, 18th June 2024, a lot was achieved and progress is clear to see. Steve, Nick and I quickly settled into our usual routine. Nick lowered a coper, which had been transported over last week, onto the wall and Steve began the process of lining it up and getting it level. Nick then got to grips with the cement mixer and soon had a batch of mortar delivered to where Steve and I were to apply it. I spent quite some time trying to sort out suitable stones for a very awkward cavity where the face of a large stone had previously flaked off leaving a very odd space to fill. I could have taken out the large stone and replaced it but that would have meant demolishing a lot of surrounding masonry which was otherwise quite sound.
A few days ago I had had delivered 10 bags of cement and had collected from a different supplier, 3 bags of hydraulic lime. Whilst Steve, Nick and I were working on the wall a 3½ ton load of grit sand was delivered so we had we had plenty of materials for mortar production but were running very low on suitable building stone. We do have a quantity of very large stones but they are definitely ‘uglies’, with no good faces and are very difficult to cut. A visit to a quarry is imminent!
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Having finished mixing mortar and cleaning out the mixer, Nick diverted his attention to removing loose debris from further along the wall. Although I am still trying to repair an awkward cavity, where Nick was working the state of the masonry looks quite good. We are hoping that this next section just requires scraping out mud and crumbling mortar from between the stones and they are then ready to be repointed. This will save a great deal of time and will help move us along quite considerably. More facing stone is still required but also a number of copers need to be cast as well. However, we are still very much heading in the right direction!
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RIDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 12th June 2024
With photos by Tony Barnes A tale of two sites again this week with our masons going to Rosemoor to continue repointing work on the lime kiln while the rest of the team went back to Ridd to carry on the battle with Nature. We spent the morning widening and improving the footpath to the site from the Tarka Trail and doing some further strimming around the stable building and the base of the incline. We also tackled the huge pile of brash at the back of the stable building left over from a previous clearance session. Fortunately, this had dried out well during the recent fine spell of weather and burned easily so progress was rapid. By the end of the morning we had successfully tidied up the area around the stable block and greatly enhanced the public access to the site – an important aspect of the restoration project. 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. |
Cleared access path
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Burning the brash
Approach to stable building
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Cleared area at back of stable building
Navvies' coffee break
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RIDDD RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 12th June 2024
We split the team again this week with one group of volunteers going to Rosemoor to continue work on the lime kiln and the rest going to Ridd.
At Ridd, we were greeted by the rather demoralising sight of Nature in full vigour and running riot. It was hard to believe that only a month ago we had the site looking in great condition prior to the first guided walk of the season. Our first task was to clear the access path from the Tarka Trail which was almost impassable. Our new mobile strimmer proved to be ideal for this job and, with the rest of the team wielding hedge cutters, bow saws and shears, we managed to open up the path once again. After coffee, we turned our attention to the area around the old stable building which had become a total jungle with sorrel, nettles and sedges growing in profusion. With a concerted effort, we were able to clear most of the ground around the building but there is still a great deal of vegetation to be cut back near the base of the incline. We hope that the rate of growth will slow over the coming months but keeping Nature at bay is an ongoing battle!
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.
We split the team again this week with one group of volunteers going to Rosemoor to continue work on the lime kiln and the rest going to Ridd.
At Ridd, we were greeted by the rather demoralising sight of Nature in full vigour and running riot. It was hard to believe that only a month ago we had the site looking in great condition prior to the first guided walk of the season. Our first task was to clear the access path from the Tarka Trail which was almost impassable. Our new mobile strimmer proved to be ideal for this job and, with the rest of the team wielding hedge cutters, bow saws and shears, we managed to open up the path once again. After coffee, we turned our attention to the area around the old stable building which had become a total jungle with sorrel, nettles and sedges growing in profusion. With a concerted effort, we were able to clear most of the ground around the building but there is still a great deal of vegetation to be cut back near the base of the incline. We hope that the rate of growth will slow over the coming months but keeping Nature at bay is an ongoing battle!
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.
Access path before clearing
Clearing in progress
Access path after clearing
Lower access path after clearing
Ridd jungle
Strimming in front of stable building
MOVING ON AT A PACE - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 12th June 2024
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Tuesday June 11th 2024 was another very productive day on the restoration of the upper wharf wall at Sea Lock. Nick got mortar organised and then he and Steve lowered onto the wall the coper which was waiting patiently to the side. Steve then went through the usual process of levelling it and infilling the gap underneath with slivers of stone and mortar. Jeremy set to work dismantling the section of scaffolding that we had finished using and began moving it to the other end of the lift ready to reassemble it again. He was joined by Tony and then Nick gave a hand whilst waiting to lower the very large stone back onto the wall which had to be removed last week. Steve had already prepared the spot on the wall where it was to go and before long, it was back where it came from and mortared securely into place. It certainly filled a large hole. |
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While all this was going on, I was rebuilding more facing a bit further along the wall. Once again, I was trying to fill another particularly awkward cavity, which was consuming a lot of mortar and infill. However, despite running short of stone suitable to use as facing, between us, Steve and I managed to restore quite a bit and all in all we have just about reached the halfway point along the wall. Tony had to leave early but Jeremy continued erecting scaffolding so we now have a new, good stretch to continue working on.
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During the day, we were blessed with dry and sunny weather although the wind was quite chilly and it was certainly considerably cooler in the shade. The advantage of this was that we didn’t have to worry about the mortar getting wet and runny. In fact, if anything, it was drying and beginning to set almost too quickly.
Although there are still some sections of very loose and unstable masonry to be addressed, we are approaching an area where it looks as if little rebuilding will need to be done just scraping out crumbling mortar and repointing with new. Restoration should then really fly ahead!
I now need to cast more copers and replenish our stock of walling stone, grit sand, cement and hydraulic lime. And so it goes on!
I now need to cast more copers and replenish our stock of walling stone, grit sand, cement and hydraulic lime. And so it goes on!
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 5th June 2024
It was all hands on deck at Rosemoor this week in a concerted effort to tidy up the site in time for the next guided walk on Sunday 9th June which will start at Darkham Weir and take in the canal basin, lime kilns and tucking mill.
The team assembled with an array of equipment including several strimmers, loppers and hand shears as well as our new mobile strimming machine being given its second ‘live’ trial. This was put to work on the grassed area in front of the lime kiln. It was amazing to see how this second cut dramatically improved the appearance of the grass which had become infested with weeds and moss during the winter. It may not be quite up to Wimbledon standard but it looks much more like a lawn again.
It was all hands on deck at Rosemoor this week in a concerted effort to tidy up the site in time for the next guided walk on Sunday 9th June which will start at Darkham Weir and take in the canal basin, lime kilns and tucking mill.
The team assembled with an array of equipment including several strimmers, loppers and hand shears as well as our new mobile strimming machine being given its second ‘live’ trial. This was put to work on the grassed area in front of the lime kiln. It was amazing to see how this second cut dramatically improved the appearance of the grass which had become infested with weeds and moss during the winter. It may not be quite up to Wimbledon standard but it looks much more like a lawn again.
Man and machine
The lawn after a good mowing
Elsewhere on the site, we strimmed the tow path (again), carried out some careful weeding around the tucking mill and generally tidied up the area. Two brave volunteers donned waders and entered the upper basin to dig out water plantains which have started to appear. If not kept under control, these plants would spread very quickly and choke the canal.
Tidying up the lower basin
Removing water plantain from upper basin
While all this activity was taking place, our masons continued to rebuild the corner buttress of the lime kiln. After laying two courses of stone, the wall was ready for the final capping off which was completed just before lunch. This marked the culmination of many months of dedicated work on the lime kiln. We estimate that we have rebuilt some 70% of the west wall in total including the difficult archway – a fantastic achievement given the scale of the challenge. The only thing lacking was a bottle of champagne to toast the successful completion of this major task…!
The final course
Capped wall of lime kiln
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.
TIME OUT AND TIME FURTHER OUT (With apologies to Dave Brubeck) - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 5th June 2024
It was a bit of a short shift at Sea Lock on Tuesday June 4th 2024 with only a crew of four working. Steve, Nick, Tony and I got organised with a variety of tasks but following our usual pattern. Nick got a load of mortar mixed and brought it over to where we were going to continue rebuilding. He then lowered onto the wall a coper previously cast last week and Steve levered it into place. Nick then lifted off the wall a large, loose facing stone that was balanced rather precariously. This stone and a number underneath, had been pushed out of place by some very big roots. I had previously managed to get a lifting strop around it because it was much too heavy to lift manually. Once this stone was safely removed to a place where it could eventually be reinstated, Tony began shifting all the loose material beneath it and before long had created quite an impressive cavity.
It was a bit of a short shift at Sea Lock on Tuesday June 4th 2024 with only a crew of four working. Steve, Nick, Tony and I got organised with a variety of tasks but following our usual pattern. Nick got a load of mortar mixed and brought it over to where we were going to continue rebuilding. He then lowered onto the wall a coper previously cast last week and Steve levered it into place. Nick then lifted off the wall a large, loose facing stone that was balanced rather precariously. This stone and a number underneath, had been pushed out of place by some very big roots. I had previously managed to get a lifting strop around it because it was much too heavy to lift manually. Once this stone was safely removed to a place where it could eventually be reinstated, Tony began shifting all the loose material beneath it and before long had created quite an impressive cavity.
Cavity was quite an appropriate word at that point in time since I had to take a break for an hour or so in order to fulfil a dental appointment. Tony also had to leave shortly after due to another commitment, whilst Steve and Nick carried on regardless. (Good name for a film!). Fortunately for me, I was not absent for long and soon got back to work attempting to refill a very awkward cavity in the wall not far from where Tony had been busy.
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Although we were only a very small working party for that day, we managed to achieve quite a lot and we are steadily if not rapidly approaching the halfway mark along the wall.
ROLLE CANAL SOCIETY GUIDED WALK - ROSEMOOR - Sunday 9th June 2024
Once again, thanks to the generous support of the RHS, there is a chance to see sections of the Rolle Canal behind the scenes at the Rosemoor gardens. As usual, the walk will leave from the back of the main car park at 2:30pm on Sunday 9 June. Turn left on entry to Rosemoor and then left again into the gravel section of the car park and look out for the Canal Society banner. This year the walk will provide a preview of the planned extension of the lower woodland walk that will run beside the mill leat/canal feeder. Some mud is possible, so stout footwear is essential.
Please note: R.H.S. Rosemoor operate a strict no dogs policy
Once again, thanks to the generous support of the RHS, there is a chance to see sections of the Rolle Canal behind the scenes at the Rosemoor gardens. As usual, the walk will leave from the back of the main car park at 2:30pm on Sunday 9 June. Turn left on entry to Rosemoor and then left again into the gravel section of the car park and look out for the Canal Society banner. This year the walk will provide a preview of the planned extension of the lower woodland walk that will run beside the mill leat/canal feeder. Some mud is possible, so stout footwear is essential.
Please note: R.H.S. Rosemoor operate a strict no dogs policy
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