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RESTORATION ROUNDUP - John Wood
A look at what's been happening over the last few months
During the last 3 months, May, June and July, a tremendous amount of restoration work has been accomplished. Dramatic progress of the Drungewick Aqueduct is reported elsewhere in this edition of the Bulletin. In addition to our own ‘in house working parties’, we have had further visits from visiting canal restoration groups, notably the Waterway Recovery BtTM (‘Bit in the Middle’) Group who came for 3 days at the end of April and completed the five transoms for the two footbridges at locks 9 and 10. They also burnt most of the tree stumps left by the contractor working there some two years ago, and extended the concrete base of the drain at the end of the watered Gennets Wood section. This will be adapted as a small overflow weir when the rest of the project is near completion during April.
At the beginning of May, the Newbury Working party Group (NWPG) held a 3-day camp. They worked on the footbridge above lock 10, which is now ready for decking and has its southern handrail in place. This is a very substantial structure when compared to the lock tail bridges (e.g. at Brewhurst also made by NWPG) and we have been fortunate to have the services of skilled volunteer carpenters. Elsewhere, 1,600 bricks were laid on the three dams at locks 9, 10 & 11 and the pipes through them incorporated into the brickwork. Supporting this was a small team who had to shift 2,500 bricks and the bridge timbers from Oakhurst Farm to the sites using a wide variety of WACT transport ranging from Landrover & Trailer through to the Trust wheelbarrow. Thanks to the WACT plant managers who keep us mobile - we could not work productively over such an extended site otherwise. More work from the visiting groups is planned through the summer and autumn.
It goes without saying that WACT is extremely grateful for the input from these and other visiting groups who work under the umbrella of the Inland Association’s ‘Waterway Recovery Group’ division. The professionalism of these volunteers is second to none, and I am sure they know just how much we value their contribution to the Wey-Souih Project. We always look forward to their future visits. Long may they continue!
One of our local contractors, Richard Julian, has recently completed some important work on the towpath north of the Drungewick Winding Hole. The overflow spillway from this pound has been leaking for some time and we took the opportunity afforded by a dry spell to drive a trench sheet cut off wall on both the canal side and the down side of the existing spillway. A new concrete slab has been cast and the towpath and bank raised locally to retain water at its design level.
After the recent rain, the area looks very smart and requires only some summer growth to restore the bank fully. Alongside the winding hole some leakage through the old bank was suspected and so a bank splitting exercise has been undertaken. Basically, a narrow trench was excavated along the centre of towpath and the clay was then replaced and compacted in place and finally rolled.
Richard Julian has worked for us for many years and his expertise in dredging and reprofiling the bed of canal really takes some beating. His construction abilities too are there for all to be seen. He rebuilt from scratch both Barnsill and Brewhurst Lane Canal Bridges.
Turning now to our own volunteer working parties,
THE MONDAY WORKING PARTY GROUP
"Keeping Up Appearances"
[Meets: usually twice a month]
Leader Brian Crossley - 01737 843192
'We seldom refuse’ is the word from the Monday Group and litter picking is usually one of the less interesting but essential tasks for ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ at our public highway crossings. Most of the rubbish is easily movable - lager cans tossed aside at Loxwood, sandwich wrappers discarded at Run Common, wing mirrors smashed at Newbridge etc. A visit to one’s local rubbish dump on the way home saves double handling - and also explains how waste from Sussex can end up in a skip in Essex! No prizes for guessing. It is Nick Wood from Thaxted, a regular attendee at the Monday Working party Group. Until recently the biggest item collected had been a double-bed wire mattress which we had duly presented to the scrap metal area at the Cranleigh dump for re-cycling. But the size of the item abandoned on Compasses Bridge back in June was a bit too much for even the Monday Group. We had to call on the services of the Police and Surrey County Council to remove the remains of somebody’s family saloon car. Our biggest single item yet!
Another important task accomplished during the summer was the removal of tree trunks, which were blocking the canal culvert under the A272.
Mowing, strimming and general tidying-up will continue until the grass stops growing. During the coming winter we shall be visiting again those sites previously restored, but fairly remote, in order to carry out our usual TLC and minor repair work as necessary. This aspect of our work is very important in order to ensure the structures and environs are in good order. This is a wonderful opportunity to be able to visit sites not normally accessible to the public. Please contact us at the end of October for details of our proposed programme this coming winter.
THE GORDON LIMBRICK GROUP
[Meets: phone for details]
Contact: Gordon - 01403 700206
Yes, this is I think the first mention of the Gordon Limbrick Group, although of course Gordon is a regular attendee on most of the other working parties and has been for many years. However, from time to time Gordon does run his own working parties, which usually are of a more specialised nature. Currently repairing the breach at Harsfold, erecting fencing and in the season operating a tractor and flair in keeping towpath vegetation under control (naturally in strict accordance with the Trust’s conservation policy). If you are looking to do something different on the practical restoration work scene, why not give Gordon a call and see what he is planning to do next.
THE MID-WEEK WORKING PARTY (MWWP)
[Meets: usually twice a month]
Leader: Colin Gibbs - 020 8241 7736 or mobile 07870 371019
More tidying up at our Tickner’s Heath Depot was comparatively restful when compared with the installation of two fences of 175yds each at Northlands Lift Bridge, Wisborough Green. The fences are on the off side of the canal to the north and south of the bridge. They were required to prevent cattle breaking down the canal bank. We used 110 posts, 13 strainers, 11 struts and 110yds of barbed wire.
More recent work includes cleaning and wire brushing the metal work on our donated swing bridge, presently residing at one of our sub depots, to be followed by painting with red oxide. Where the bridge will eventually be installed has yet to be decided. During July we moved 2,500 bricks, sand and timber from Oakhurst Farm to Gennets Wood weir. Now clear, the farmyard is ready to receive umpteen truck loads of crushed concrete, for use in upgrading the canal towpath in the Gennets Wood and Bonfire Hanger sections. Future work for the Group includes cosmetic work at Toat, north of Fastbridge, Run Common North, Rushetts Farm and East Whipley.
THE LOXWOOD LINK MAINTENANCE UNIT
[Meets: at least once a week]
Leader: Peter Wilding - 01483 422519
Maintenance work never ends of course and at this time of year frequent grass mowing is required of the 'trimmed' areas. The plentiful supply of rainwater since my last report, until July 10th that is, has made water level control easy but does also increase luxuriant jungle growth. Now after two weeks without rain, the flow rate in the River Lox at the end of July was down to the figure at which we have to switch off our abstraction pump. That means anxiously monitoring water levels and praying for rain, as are the three very large carp who have made they way up through Baldwin’s Knob Lock.
Sadly, the smallest of the four cygnets has succumbed to nature’s natural selection process, but at least the rest are thriving and doing their bit to keep the duckweed down. The loose manhole cover by the W & A Enterprises shed at the ‘Onslow Arms’ has been fixed and the tall reeds cut at Drungewick in order to make the jetty visible to Zachariah Keppel’s skippers as they approach it.
THE WINSTON HARWOOD GROUP
[Meets: every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday]
Contact Winston on 01293 424672
During May, the Group levelled the undulations in the towpath at Tickner’s Heath south, between the sluice and the dam. A small bulldozer was hired for the day. The tipped clay has been removed and the verge smoothed for the grass to re-establish. By the time you read this report, the topsoil should have been delivered to cover the clay and then nature can take over and finish the site off.
Lordings Flood Gates Bridge. Fantastic progress has been made, once the fields had dried out sufficiently to gain access. The arch and walls are finished, the ramps will be completed during July and August. Once water stops flowing into the section the bridge hole can be pumped out and the wing walls concreted and scaffolding removed. Gates and fencing will follow.
If the bed dries out sufficiently we should then be able to re-profile a third of mile of canal, then the sluice can be closed and the pound filled by winter floods. We might be able to start on the cut out footbridges, but the installation of the water wheel is looking unlikely this year.
THE ERIC WALKER GROUP
[Meets: every Thursday and Sunday at least!]
Contact Eric on 02392 463025
Eric will be looking for as many volunteers as possible to carry out the completion work on the Drungewick Aqueduct, which can be undertaken by voluntary labour. This includes fencing and waterproofing, plus landscaping to restore the site to good order and appearance. Eric is also looking for an all out effort to complete the reconstruction of the lock chamber at Devil's Hole Lock. Plenty of interesting work for all. Please come along if you possibly can.
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As always, the Working Party Leaders very much welcome ‘new faces’. No experience is necessary. You will never be asked to work beyond your capabilities, nor for any longer than you feel able. Do remember to contact a Leader before setting out, as he will be able to confirm date and exact venue, together with any other information needed.
Although ALL the above reports show just how much restoration work is going on it is a sad fact the number of our volunteer navvies is decreasing. It goes without saying that some of us are not so young as we used to be and have had to retire from the practical restoration scene for health reasons. Whilst at the other end of the scale, younger folk, especially those in further education, are having to earn money during their holidays to pay for their university lives.
So, once more, may I appeal to any member/s who may be able to devote just one day a year to help to hasten the completion of the Wey-South Project? Remember no experience required. Work at your own pace and ability. Enjoy good company, fresh air, and glorious and sometimes quite remote countryside.
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