October News
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 27th October 2021
We had a good turn out this week including a new navvie, Stuart, so had enough personnel to work on three fronts: the lime kiln, the tucking mill and the upper basin wall.
On the lime kiln, good progress was made with the ongoing repairs to the west wall and a further five courses of stone laid in the damaged area. Our intention is to re-build another four feet or so of the wall which will take the repair up to the level of the adjoining buttress. At this point we can then turn our attention to re-building the big arch. This will require the installation of a wooden former to support the new masonry. We do have some previous experience here from our restoration of the southern arch of the kiln in 2019 and this will certainly be useful.
We had a good turn out this week including a new navvie, Stuart, so had enough personnel to work on three fronts: the lime kiln, the tucking mill and the upper basin wall.
On the lime kiln, good progress was made with the ongoing repairs to the west wall and a further five courses of stone laid in the damaged area. Our intention is to re-build another four feet or so of the wall which will take the repair up to the level of the adjoining buttress. At this point we can then turn our attention to re-building the big arch. This will require the installation of a wooden former to support the new masonry. We do have some previous experience here from our restoration of the southern arch of the kiln in 2019 and this will certainly be useful.
Repairing lime kiln wall
The presence of a few extra bodies has helped to speed up the excavation of the tucking mill and a large section of the floor of the lower chamber has now been exposed. There is now a real prospect that we may be able to manually remove all the earth from this section over the next few weeks which will transform the site and give a much better idea of how it operated.
Excavating the tucking mill
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In the upper basin, RHS Rosemoor had kindly pumped out much of the water to allow us to work in the wet area around the base of the telegraph pole. We removed a lot of the earth around the pole and dug foundations for the continuation of the basin wall. This will take the form of a curved section which will be tied into the old and new stonework at either end and will mirror the radius we created at the winding point close by. We managed to lay a first course of large foundation stones by the end of the session and, weather permitting, will build on this next week. |
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Digging foundations around the pole
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Foundation stones laid
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We were very pleased to welcome on site Bill Nichols, one of our supporters, during the morning. Bill has been on many of our guided walks and was impressed by the progress we have made at the Rosemoor site since his last visit.
Generally, working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting in the main car park at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington at 9.30am. (.NB. Arrangements may vary during Covid restrictions). Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) for more information.
Generally, working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting in the main car park at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington at 9.30am. (.NB. Arrangements may vary during Covid restrictions). Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) for more information.
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS - Sea Lock Report by Adrian Wills - 28th October 2021
Another very productive day’s work was achieved on Tuesday, I was joined again by Steve and Nick, earlier in the morning than around their usual time of arrival due to a closure on the village road. Steve and I set about mortaring into place a ‘coping stone’ I had dry-laid and levelled the previous day whilst Nick moved a substantial; amount of stone which had been retrieved from the canal having fallen out of the wall.
Another very productive day’s work was achieved on Tuesday, I was joined again by Steve and Nick, earlier in the morning than around their usual time of arrival due to a closure on the village road. Steve and I set about mortaring into place a ‘coping stone’ I had dry-laid and levelled the previous day whilst Nick moved a substantial; amount of stone which had been retrieved from the canal having fallen out of the wall.
Good progress was made with the rebuilding until my meagre supply of grit-sand was exhausted. My big trailer is temporarily out of use so I have been unable to replenish the stock of sand for the moment.
Being unable to mix any more mortar Steve turned his attention towards assisting Nick who by this time was clearing debris from on top of the next section of wall to be rebuilt.
I set about loosening the scaffold boards from their clips and moving them further along the top scaffold lift in preparation for the next bit of face-building.
Being unable to mix any more mortar Steve turned his attention towards assisting Nick who by this time was clearing debris from on top of the next section of wall to be rebuilt.
I set about loosening the scaffold boards from their clips and moving them further along the top scaffold lift in preparation for the next bit of face-building.
During the middle of the afternoon, Ryan arrived to fill his excavator with diesel and then began scrapping silt away from the base of the wall to make life easier when extending the scaffold along it. By this time Nick, Steve and I had had enough, so we called it a day leaving Ryan to work on for a while.
SHORT BACK AND SIDES - Sea Lock Report by Adrian Wills - 24th October 2021
I have been pondering the problem of how to maintain the sides of the towpath for quite some time. Invasive vegetation is a constant nuisance and a great deal of time and energy is consumed in attempting to control it. The towpath banks are particularly problematic because they are too steep and high to clear with a strimmer and I have been considering whether a hover mower on a length of rope may be an answer. Not ideal but a possibility.
I have been pondering the problem of how to maintain the sides of the towpath for quite some time. Invasive vegetation is a constant nuisance and a great deal of time and energy is consumed in attempting to control it. The towpath banks are particularly problematic because they are too steep and high to clear with a strimmer and I have been considering whether a hover mower on a length of rope may be an answer. Not ideal but a possibility.
In conversation with Ryan, the contractor who has been using his excavator on site, I asked if he happened to have an extendable flail mower for the tractor he used to tow his excavator. He has but was not sure whether it could be lowered sufficiently to mow the towpath sides.
I took up his offer of him having a go and he duly arrived on Friday afternoon with the tractor and mower.
I took up his offer of him having a go and he duly arrived on Friday afternoon with the tractor and mower.
Following a short ‘natter’ Ryan promptly set about attacking the offending vegetation. What a brilliant job he did!
I will be certainly be calling on his services again when the weeds along the banks inevitably grow back.
I will be certainly be calling on his services again when the weeds along the banks inevitably grow back.
Unfortunately there is always a massive amount of vegetation that needs removing or cutting back and more volunteers would be welcomed to join the small but elite group who assist me at Sea Lock.
Should you be interested in lending a hand, then please do not hesitate to contact me?
Email: [email protected] or phone 01237 477705
Should you be interested in lending a hand, then please do not hesitate to contact me?
Email: [email protected] or phone 01237 477705
MUD, MUD, GLORIOUS MUD - Sea Lock Report by Adrian Wills - 22nd October 2021
Having temporarily abandoned working at Sea Lock in preference to a well-deserved (in my opinion) holiday touring Scotland, I was rather dismayed to find on my return that part of the towpath behind one of the breaches in the wall, which was undergoing repair, had collapsed. The collapse was due to the fact that the gabion baskets inserted into the breach were awaiting filling with stone and heavy rainfall weakened the towpath behind.
Having temporarily abandoned working at Sea Lock in preference to a well-deserved (in my opinion) holiday touring Scotland, I was rather dismayed to find on my return that part of the towpath behind one of the breaches in the wall, which was undergoing repair, had collapsed. The collapse was due to the fact that the gabion baskets inserted into the breach were awaiting filling with stone and heavy rainfall weakened the towpath behind.
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Last week, joined by Steve and a new volunteer, Nick, we set about trying to clear the fall but eventually had to wait for Ryan, the digger driver, to hoik out the damaged baskets with his excavator. Efforts to salvage them proved time-consuming and ineffective so new ones had to be used. Once the fallen, very sticky material was cleared and the new baskets inserted, work began to fill them as fast as possible.
Time was spent and a vast amount of rubble and concrete blocks was used to fill these baskets and shortly afterwards the second layer was added. Eventually aided by my wife and neighbour in this onerous task the job was finally finished.
In order to prevent further collapse I set about rebuilding the back of the wall across the gabions so the cavity behind the baskets could be filled and the towpath made safe again. Unfortunately, filling the baskets had consumed the stock pile of salvaged blocks which I had set aside for the back of the wall so I had to resort to a combination of old concrete fencing posts and bricks.
Time was spent and a vast amount of rubble and concrete blocks was used to fill these baskets and shortly afterwards the second layer was added. Eventually aided by my wife and neighbour in this onerous task the job was finally finished.
In order to prevent further collapse I set about rebuilding the back of the wall across the gabions so the cavity behind the baskets could be filled and the towpath made safe again. Unfortunately, filling the baskets had consumed the stock pile of salvaged blocks which I had set aside for the back of the wall so I had to resort to a combination of old concrete fencing posts and bricks.
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A few days later I was joined again by Steve, Michael and Tony. We concentrated on extending to scaffolding along the face of the wall. This was not an easy task because it meant that Steve and I had to get down into the canal and lay concrete slabs in the bottom to sit the standards (upright poles) on. There was a considerable flow of water running where the scaffold was being erected so Steve and I were slathering about in very wet and glutinous mud whilst trying to get heavy and cumbersome poles in place. Tony and Michael were relatively high and dry, working on the top edge of the wall, keeping us supplied with a variety of poles and scaffold clips. Tony and Michael worked until lunch time and then returned home. Steve and I continued for another couple of hours until we had finished the extended scaffold section, minus its planking, by which time it had started to rain with a vengeance so we finally called it a day. |
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Tony Nicholls - 20th October 2021
A few light showers interrupted this week’s session at Rosemoor but thankfully these did not last long. As noted in last week’s report, we have gone as far as we can with the re-build of the upper basin wall for the moment. The upper pound now needs to be drained to allow us continue the repair around the awkward electricity pole which is situated right on the line of the wall. We therefore put our masons to work on the west wall of the lime kiln while the remainder of the team carried on with the excavation of the tucking mill.
A few light showers interrupted this week’s session at Rosemoor but thankfully these did not last long. As noted in last week’s report, we have gone as far as we can with the re-build of the upper basin wall for the moment. The upper pound now needs to be drained to allow us continue the repair around the awkward electricity pole which is situated right on the line of the wall. We therefore put our masons to work on the west wall of the lime kiln while the remainder of the team carried on with the excavation of the tucking mill.
Unloading the donated stone
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Looking at the lime kiln wall from close up, the extent of the damage to the stone work becomes very clear. The re-build will require a huge amount of material. We were therefore very grateful to receive a donation of stone from one of our supporters. As a leading supermarket chain has observed: ‘every little helps’…. There is no doubt that having a supply of good quality building stone speeds up the process of reconstruction. We managed to lay some six courses of masonry which has provided a good foundation for the rest of the re-build. Although the new repair looks very different, the stone which we laid several months ago has already started to ‘weather in’ so we are confident that the new stonework will, in due course, blend with the old. 
Repaired section of wall
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Good progress was also made on the tucking mill where we are re-constructing some of the foundation walls. We have also managed to dig out more earth from the lower chamber which has revealed what appears to be a concrete floor. Sadly, there is no evidence of an extension of the cobbled floor here but it is entirely possible that this has been destroyed or built over at a later date. The recent heavy rain has helped to scour out the mill race and the shape of the channel where we believe the old mill wheel was located is now much more clearly defined. Good to have a helping hand from Nature for a change!
Rebuilding tucking mill foundations
Excavating the lower chamber
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Lower section of the mill race
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Generally, working parties are held every Wednesday morning, meeting in the main car park at RHS Rosemoor, Torrington at 9.30am. (NB. Arrangements may vary during Covid restrictions). Please contact Project Manager, Ian Harrison (tel.01237- 475707) for more information.
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Ian Harrison - 13th October 2021
Despite being a bit low on numbers again this week we reached a minor milestone reconstructing the basin wall in that we reached the electric pole. We now need to plan how to provide support to the pole in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Despite being a bit low on numbers again this week we reached a minor milestone reconstructing the basin wall in that we reached the electric pole. We now need to plan how to provide support to the pole in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Work on the tucking mill and mill-race continued. We are hoping that a mill expert will be visiting the site in the next couple of weeks to give us the benefit of his expertise.
We will be working at Rosemoor every Wednesday for the next few weeks. All welcome!
Ian Harrison. 07557 478371
Ian Harrison. 07557 478371
ROSEMOOR RESTORATION REPORT by Ian Harrison - 6th October 2021
We were a bit low on numbers today, but on the plus side we welcomed a new navvy Mick who was soon put to work digging out the lower corner of the mill race.
We were a bit low on numbers today, but on the plus side we welcomed a new navvy Mick who was soon put to work digging out the lower corner of the mill race.
New navvy Mick having a baptism of mud!
The basin wall opposite the is nearing completion - one more week should see it done (apart from the capping) which is just in time as the canal bed is getting very wet now!
Work on the tucking mill itself continued including the stabilisation of a small part of the cobbled floor.
If there are any other volunteers out there who might like to join us please give me a ring. We normally work at Rosemoor on Wednesday's and Sea Lock on Tuesday's but sometimes carry out maintenance work on other parts of the route.
Ian Harrison. 07557 478371
If there are any other volunteers out there who might like to join us please give me a ring. We normally work at Rosemoor on Wednesday's and Sea Lock on Tuesday's but sometimes carry out maintenance work on other parts of the route.
Ian Harrison. 07557 478371
ROLLE CANAL SOCIETY WALK - Sunday 3rd October - ANNERY KILN TO RIDD INCLINED PLANE
Starting from Annery Kiln by Halfpenny Bridge on the Bideford to Weare Giffard road. See the site where tub-boats were hauled up an incline from the river level to the canal summit level. Part of the underground water-wheel chamber is visible beside the Tarka Trail.
Meet at 2.30pm at Annery Kiln. Walk leader: Tony Nicholls. Distance less than 2 miles. No booking is required, this walk is open to everyone, although the route includes 100 metres walking over rough meadow grass. It will probably be damp or muddy underfoot so walking boots or wellies are advised and it might even rain, so please dress accordingly.
The income from the small charge of £2 per person on the guided walks makes a valuable contribution to the Society's work in improving access along the canal and providing interpretation of the major features.
Please note that all walks include private land where dogs are not permitted.
Starting from Annery Kiln by Halfpenny Bridge on the Bideford to Weare Giffard road. See the site where tub-boats were hauled up an incline from the river level to the canal summit level. Part of the underground water-wheel chamber is visible beside the Tarka Trail.
Meet at 2.30pm at Annery Kiln. Walk leader: Tony Nicholls. Distance less than 2 miles. No booking is required, this walk is open to everyone, although the route includes 100 metres walking over rough meadow grass. It will probably be damp or muddy underfoot so walking boots or wellies are advised and it might even rain, so please dress accordingly.
The income from the small charge of £2 per person on the guided walks makes a valuable contribution to the Society's work in improving access along the canal and providing interpretation of the major features.
Please note that all walks include private land where dogs are not permitted.
