February News
ROLLE CANAL RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 22nd February 2023
Another two-way split this week: two of the team went back to Ridd to finish the clearance work we started last week while the rest went to Rosemoor to continue with the tucking mill project.
At Ridd, our first task was to cut through the huge ivy trunks at the base of the wall of the stable block. This will allow the remaining growth to die off naturally. Having cut through the main trunks, it was possible to peel away most of the ivy clinging to the wall which was very satisfying and saved a lot of work. With the aid of a longer ladder, we were then able to reach the topmost growth on the stable roof and successfully remove most of this.
Another two-way split this week: two of the team went back to Ridd to finish the clearance work we started last week while the rest went to Rosemoor to continue with the tucking mill project.
At Ridd, our first task was to cut through the huge ivy trunks at the base of the wall of the stable block. This will allow the remaining growth to die off naturally. Having cut through the main trunks, it was possible to peel away most of the ivy clinging to the wall which was very satisfying and saved a lot of work. With the aid of a longer ladder, we were then able to reach the topmost growth on the stable roof and successfully remove most of this.
View from base of incline towards stable block
Peeling ivy from the stable wall
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Stable block after removal of ivy
During the morning, we were joined by Chris Hassall who, with his extensive knowledge of the inclined plane, pointed out a number of interesting features which would be worth including in any future restoration of the site. After coffee we spent the rest of the morning taking down a large elder at the rear of the stable and removing several other elder trees which have sprung up in recent years. This has produced enough brushwood to sustain ‘Two Matches’ Michael and his bonfire for the next month! 
Old railway bridge at Ridd
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At Rosemoor, the team added a few more courses of stone to the mill race wall which is taking shape nicely. A further section of the basin wall was cleaned up and infilled in preparation for capping off. The addition of coping stones to the wall will really transform the appearance of the upper basin. We are hoping for dry weather to enable us to make rapid progress with this work.
Repairing mill race wall
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Preparing wall for capping
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Repaired section of mill race wall
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.
MEN AT WORK - DOWN UNDER With apologies to the Australian Rock Band
Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 22nd February 2023
This morning, (Wednesday 22.02 23) when taking my habitual early morning walk around the site of the Sea lock around 7.30am. I was impressed by the sight of a very, very high tide during my perambulations. Topping out at about 6.75 metres, the lock chamber and basin filled to the level at which it would have been maintained when operating commercially, was really quite impressive!
Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 22nd February 2023
This morning, (Wednesday 22.02 23) when taking my habitual early morning walk around the site of the Sea lock around 7.30am. I was impressed by the sight of a very, very high tide during my perambulations. Topping out at about 6.75 metres, the lock chamber and basin filled to the level at which it would have been maintained when operating commercially, was really quite impressive!
The previous day once again witnessed Steve, sitting down on the job, wiring together the most recently welded rebar cages fabricated by my dear next-door neighbour, John. He and I had put together several sections of reinforcing the day before and, whilst he is a skilled welder having spent much of his working life doing just that, it is far from one of his favourite activities and just to rub salt into his wounds, he had not been feeling very well for a while either.
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Anyway, thanks to him, and the excavations I had undertaken beforehand, one trench was ready to receive its metal reinforcement, as well as a couple of ‘outriggers’.
While Steve was dancing around lengths of steel designed to trip you up or snag on your overalls, Nick started up the Kubota tractor and began digging out yet another trench.
While Steve was dancing around lengths of steel designed to trip you up or snag on your overalls, Nick started up the Kubota tractor and began digging out yet another trench.
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I continued cutting and bending rebar as well as lengths of tie-wire, to keep Steve busy and stop him from running away from the site. ‘Widecombe Fair’ was revisited a couple of times and even Nick burst into song for a moment!
This is all very worrying especially since, like last Tuesday’s efforts, yesterday’s were very productive and with few hang-ups (apart from the fact that I couldn’t get the dumper to start despite its battery being fully charged) and the first stage of the ring-beam concrete construction is rapidly approaching completion.
This is all very worrying especially since, like last Tuesday’s efforts, yesterday’s were very productive and with few hang-ups (apart from the fact that I couldn’t get the dumper to start despite its battery being fully charged) and the first stage of the ring-beam concrete construction is rapidly approaching completion.
ROLLE CANAL RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Barnes - 22nd February 2023
The team was split today and with two on holiday one at the doctors we were down to three at Rosemoor. Nevertheless the mill wheel feed is almost complete and the basin wall realigned and ready for casting. Hopefully we will back together next week and get into the final push on the project.
The team was split today and with two on holiday one at the doctors we were down to three at Rosemoor. Nevertheless the mill wheel feed is almost complete and the basin wall realigned and ready for casting. Hopefully we will back together next week and get into the final push on the project.
ROLLE CANAL RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 15th February 2023
We divided our workforce this week with one team going to Rosemoor and one to Ridd – an effective use of our limited resources.
At Rosemoor, our resident carpenter started to build the form work for the wall cappings for the upper basin. We have had some debate as to whether to cap the walls or not but decided that this was desirable to provide long-term protection for the underlying masonry. From an aesthetic viewpoint it will also create a consistent appearance with the lower basin. The team also continued with the ongoing re-build of the mill race wall which is progressing well.
We divided our workforce this week with one team going to Rosemoor and one to Ridd – an effective use of our limited resources.
At Rosemoor, our resident carpenter started to build the form work for the wall cappings for the upper basin. We have had some debate as to whether to cap the walls or not but decided that this was desirable to provide long-term protection for the underlying masonry. From an aesthetic viewpoint it will also create a consistent appearance with the lower basin. The team also continued with the ongoing re-build of the mill race wall which is progressing well.
Making former for wall capping
Positioning former on upper basin wall
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Rebuilding mill race wall
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At Ridd, we carried out some much-needed scrub bashing around the old stable block where the vegetation has started to grow profusely. We strimmed the entire area from the stables to the base of the inclined plane, leaving the ‘island’ of sedges to indicate the approximate location of the lower docking bays. We also removed a lot of ivy from the gable end of the stable building. This is a perennial problem which we are anxious to control as the growth soon gets out of hand. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach the very top of the roof so we plan to return next week with a longer ladder to remove the remaining ivy. We finished the session by clearing vegetation from the rear of the building leaving it in much better shape than when we arrived. It was nice to see the arrival of Ridd Robin soon after we started work – possibly a distant cousin of Rolle Robin…? |
Stable block before session
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Approach to inclined plane
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Ridd Robin
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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.
Stable block after session
OH SO BORING AND EVEN MORE POURING! Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 15th February 2023
Looking almost like a scene from the film ‘Ground Hog Day’, saw Steve once again boring more holes in concrete foundations, bonding in rebar studs and tying together rebar frames, previously welded by my good friend John, at Sea Lock on Tuesday (St Valentine’s Day- 14.02.23). Certainly nothing very romantic about that!
Looking almost like a scene from the film ‘Ground Hog Day’, saw Steve once again boring more holes in concrete foundations, bonding in rebar studs and tying together rebar frames, previously welded by my good friend John, at Sea Lock on Tuesday (St Valentine’s Day- 14.02.23). Certainly nothing very romantic about that!
While he was doing this, Nick and I finished excavating yet another trench between the upright supports of the interpretation loft. In the meantime, Tony was enjoying himself clearing more invasive vegetation from the site.
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Steve quickly inserted one rebar frame and then got on with the same process in the trench Nick and I had just finished. We were charging ahead but beginning to wonder what was about to go wrong. This was just too good.
Nick and I began work on excavating yet another trench. Nick positioned the Kubota alongside the loft and began digging whilst I attempted to start the dumper. This was a setback because the dumper’s battery was flat, I had forgotten to put it on charge and the engine refused to start. By this time, Steve had finished wiring in the second rebar framework, so we turned our attention to mixing and pouring concrete. By lunchtime, we had completed filling one trench to its first level and after lunch started on the next. By the end of the day, we had completed that one as well, so it was a very productive and satisfying day despite being hard work and very tiring.
Nick and I began work on excavating yet another trench. Nick positioned the Kubota alongside the loft and began digging whilst I attempted to start the dumper. This was a setback because the dumper’s battery was flat, I had forgotten to put it on charge and the engine refused to start. By this time, Steve had finished wiring in the second rebar framework, so we turned our attention to mixing and pouring concrete. By lunchtime, we had completed filling one trench to its first level and after lunch started on the next. By the end of the day, we had completed that one as well, so it was a very productive and satisfying day despite being hard work and very tiring.
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Once again, the weather had been kind to us. It had been a bright, dry and sunny day although there was a slight nip in the air in the shade. However, doing what we had been doing, kept us more than warm! 
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NOT UFO'S - But what are they? - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 12th February 2023
Hoping for good weather on Tuesday 14th February (St Valentine’s Day) in anticipation of being joined once again by my merry gang of volunteers at Sea Lock, I have been working in preparation to enable more progress to be achieved. I have been cutting and bending lengths of rebar as well as digging out more trench between uprights on the interpretation loft using the Kubota tractor. Using the tractor’s backhoe is certainly easier and faster than excavating using picks and shovels but still presents problems. Getting the backhoe as near and close in to the uprights makes it difficult to see where the digging bucket actually is, and although I am less restricted by height and can lift out full buckets, it only takes two to fill a wheelbarrow. It is however, very good exercise having to keep climbing down from the backhoe seat, moving and emptying the barrow and then climbing back up into the operators position. ‘Jack in a Box’ comes to mind! |
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Looking into the most recently excavated trench at what the loft is standing on; it is hardly surprising that there has been settlement and some subsidence of the building.
During the course of digging out the trenches between the uprights has uncovered a substantial number of precast lumps of damaged concrete blocks.
During the course of digging out the trenches between the uprights has uncovered a substantial number of precast lumps of damaged concrete blocks.
These blocks are very dense, heavy and oddly shaped. Measuring approximately 5 inches wide x 9 inches long and 8 inches high, they are very difficult to smash into smaller, more compatible material. The rubble, in which they are, is not original to the site but was imported from elsewhere. I am curious to know for what function they were originally used. If any readers of this article recognise them and can enlighten me, I would be very grateful.
UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES - With apologies to Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 9th February 2023
The usual team of five who regularly work at Sea Lock on Tuesday (03.02.23) was reduced to three since Michael and Nick had other commitments. The day before, I had begun digging a new trench between two of the upright posts supporting the loft in preparation of concreting in another rebar mesh. Nick, with Tony assisting, had undertaken much of the digging of the earlier trenches. Working on my own, using a combination of pick, shovel and mattock was very hard and tiring. There had to be an easier way!
The usual team of five who regularly work at Sea Lock on Tuesday (03.02.23) was reduced to three since Michael and Nick had other commitments. The day before, I had begun digging a new trench between two of the upright posts supporting the loft in preparation of concreting in another rebar mesh. Nick, with Tony assisting, had undertaken much of the digging of the earlier trenches. Working on my own, using a combination of pick, shovel and mattock was very hard and tiring. There had to be an easier way!
I had considered using the backhoe of the Kubota tractor but thought that the lack of headroom would prevent access. I then thought about working the machine from outside the loft, extending the hoe in as far and as low as I could manage.
Following some very careful manoeuvring, I reversed the tractor as close in to one of the uprights as I could and discovered, to my delight, that I could operate it to dig as long as I didn’t try to raise the boom too high.
The only disadvantage of using the machine within this confine was that I was unable to actually lift dirt out of the hole. Never-the-less, being able to break up the ground where the trench was to be dug speeded up the process dramatically.
The only disadvantage of using the machine within this confine was that I was unable to actually lift dirt out of the hole. Never-the-less, being able to break up the ground where the trench was to be dug speeded up the process dramatically.
On Tuesday, Tony began shovelling out the loosened hard-core into wheelbarrows, which I then trundled away and emptied. Steve continued the process of drilling, bonding rebar stubs and wiring together another rebar mesh into the trench dug out the previous week.
We are getting through a load of cement and concrete ballast but, hopefully, the problem of settlement of the building on ‘iffy’ ground should be solved once and for all before too long! The new delivery of cement ordered the day before finally arrived about an hour and a half after we had packed up and gone home but at least we are now well stocked for the next onslaught! Ps. I think Steve’s musicality must be contagious and, rather worryingly, he seems to have a thing about Widecombe Fair! |
With me working the Kubota to dig the trench to the require depth and Tony clearing the debris, we had it finished before lunch time and redirected our attention to mixing concrete. After lunch, Steve and I continued mixing and laying concrete and we very quickly completed filling it to the same depth as previously filled ones. The process was speeding up and somewhat less demanding! Another rebar mesh now needs to be welded together for the new trench and in the following few days I will excavate more trenches. The trenches to be dug, with the exception of the one which is in the middle of the building beneath the entrance and staircase, should be a much simpler operation because I can get the Kubota up close and parallel to the pillars, but work outside of them. This means I should also be able to dig dirt out and drop it directly into wheelbarrows since I will have no height restrictions on the backhoe arm. 
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ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 8th February 2023
A very frosty morning today for our Rosemoor session but once the sun gained some strength things really warmed up and we enjoyed glorious working conditions.
We made further progress with the re-build of the wall of the mill race which is coming on nicely. Unfortunately, work was curtailed when one of the mixing blades in our trusty cement mixer became partially detached from the drum making further mixing of mortar impossible. We cannot complain as the mixer has given us years of sterling service. We hope that with some clever engineering - it might be possible to make a repair.
A very frosty morning today for our Rosemoor session but once the sun gained some strength things really warmed up and we enjoyed glorious working conditions.
We made further progress with the re-build of the wall of the mill race which is coming on nicely. Unfortunately, work was curtailed when one of the mixing blades in our trusty cement mixer became partially detached from the drum making further mixing of mortar impossible. We cannot complain as the mixer has given us years of sterling service. We hope that with some clever engineering - it might be possible to make a repair.
Re-building wall of mill race
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Re-built corner of mill race wall
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In the lower chamber of the tucking mill we made a start on re-laying more cobblestones in one of the damaged sections of the floor. We are bedding these in concrete and will then infill the gaps with soil to blend the new work with the original stones. (This low-level work takes its toll on backs and knees – the phrase ‘a load of old cobblers’ was never more apposite!).
Re-laying cobblestones
Re-laid cobblestones
One dedicated member of the team is continuing to excavate the area around the upper basin tow path and has revealed further stonework which we now think may be the continuation of the basin wall. A huge tree stump has grown out of the wall at this point and has destabilised much of the masonry but it does look as if the wall may have continued beyond the tucking mill.
Excavating around towpath
Next week we will split the team with one group remaining at Rosemoor and the other going to Ridd to do some much-needed scrub-bashing around the old stable block.
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.
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.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 1st February 2023
With virtually a full turn out of volunteers this week we were able to make good progress with the ongoing restoration of the tucking mill.
With virtually a full turn out of volunteers this week we were able to make good progress with the ongoing restoration of the tucking mill.
Cobblestones re-laid
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Preparing to re-lay cobblestones
Re-pointed concrete floor
Some final finishing touches were made to the external wall of the lower chamber and the fragments of the concrete floor which we laid several weeks ago were pointed in. We have now turned our attention to repairing some of the damaged areas of the cobblestone floor – a job which sounds fairly straightforward but invariably is not. We are debating how far we should go with this work as the areas which require repair are extensive.
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The rest of the working party concentrated on re-building the retaining (south) wall of the mill race. This, as usual, involved a certain amount of conjecture as we are not sure exactly how the wall originally looked but we have made an ‘educated guess’. During the course of the morning we managed to lay several courses of stone and constructed an elegant curved return to connect the stonework to the wider part of the channel below. We have also been continuing to excavate the area of the tow path near the ‘smelting pit’ and were surprised to find further substantial stonework here. We are not sure what this represents but, given that it is more or less opposite what we think may be an old bridge pier on the eastern side of the canal, it is possible that it may be the foundations of the partner pier on the west side. Here, we unearthed another interesting bit of ironwork – badly rusted but it might possibly be an old hinge post. Another item for our collection of artefacts and another puzzle to be solved! (Footnote: It was good to see our old friend, Rolle Robin (or maybe son of), appear almost as soon as we arrived on site. He is quite content to hop around us as we work looking for freshly turned ground to attack for an early morning snack – a real character!). Working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting in the main car |
Re-building wall of mill race
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Repaired corner of mill race
Stone foundations near towpath
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Possible hinge post
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View of tucking mill from north
Rolle Robin
LET'S TWIST AGAIN - With apologies to Chubby Checker - Sea Lock report by Adrian Wills - 1st February 2023
It was a rather grey and damp start to Tuesday morning (31.01.23) when Steve, Nick, and Tony joined me at Sea Lock. The word ‘mizzling’ best describes the weather at that time.
While they decided on a plan of campaign, I started up the Priestman Cub and moved it to where I could park it without blocking access. I was anticipating a delivery of 10 bags of cement later in the day.
Nick and Tony began the arduous task of digging a trench across the middle of the loft floor in order to cast more concrete for the ring-beam. This proved particularly tiresome to shovel because of the loose infill that had to be removed. Rather scary, large voids in the ground where they were digging kept being discovered so it was little surprise that the building was slowly subsiding.
It was a rather grey and damp start to Tuesday morning (31.01.23) when Steve, Nick, and Tony joined me at Sea Lock. The word ‘mizzling’ best describes the weather at that time.
While they decided on a plan of campaign, I started up the Priestman Cub and moved it to where I could park it without blocking access. I was anticipating a delivery of 10 bags of cement later in the day.
Nick and Tony began the arduous task of digging a trench across the middle of the loft floor in order to cast more concrete for the ring-beam. This proved particularly tiresome to shovel because of the loose infill that had to be removed. Rather scary, large voids in the ground where they were digging kept being discovered so it was little surprise that the building was slowly subsiding.
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They were working under the shelter of the building. Steve, on the other hand, was exposed to the elements, working in the trench excavated last week, drilling concrete and bonding stubs of rebar in preparation of installing a welded rebar cage. Not being sure of whether the bonding agent would work in the wet, he first had to refer to the instruction leaflet (Whatever next?) which was not actually very helpful but didn’t imply dampness was a problem! 
He next ‘tip-toed through the tulips’ or at least in the spaces between the rebar webs of steel, tying things together.
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In the meantime, I ‘faffed about’; cutting lengths of rebar and wire, moving and emptying barrowful’s of excavated rubble, breaking large lumps of concrete, and spreading it across the surface of the yard.
By lunchtime, the fourth trench was completed and Steve had finished tying all the rebar connections. Concrete next! After lunch, the cement mixer was working hard whilst Steve and Nick mixed concrete and I filled the trench with it and tamped it down. Eventually we had mixed and laid sufficient concrete for that section so we cleaned our tools and wearily headed home. Although there are still another seven trenches needing to be excavated and filled with reinforced concrete before we can start the process of actually re-levelling the building, we are making very good and pleasing progress. 
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