Ham Mill - April 1st and 3rd 2019
by: Andy P.
An early start and a good crowd of 8 set about cutting and
laying rebar mesh on the slope. Rebar was bent in 2 directions to fit between
the blocks and it was all wired together ready for the 11 am delivery of 11
tonnes concrete. This very dry mix was shovelled, raked, tamped, levelled and
given a final dressing. In the blazing sun it was soon hard and we were unable
to get the best finish but under the circumstances it is ok.
The 2nd dam has been removed again as we are not
having anymore MD stresses. Lost count of how many times it has been built and
removed. The BD did its usual, I am not going to work after dinner trick and
was left for our regular outside assistance. What a difference a dam makes.
The coping stones around the bridge were replaced and
mortared in place. Neighbour Bob (the lock keeper) and his very special lifting
tool, along with and our Bob got everything lined up and fitted. Another big
job completed.
We tried to fit the recently purchased hammer breaker to the
MD but it does not quite fit and the hydraulic pipes leak. Therefore, we had to
revert to a sledge hammer and chisels to break up concrete from the old walls,
which we barrowed into the tow path behind the coping stones. Then type 1 was
barrowed on top to give an almost completed tow path.
Dave C and Frank joined us for a late lunch and it was good
to catch up with some WD exploits. At some point lots of hands descended onto
the forlorn and dishevelled MD after its muddy inclusion. A high pressure
washer and fittings were produced and mud blasted away from places you cannot
image that were covered in mud. At least now it looks better but still bruised
in places
A few more details
emerged (allegedly) about the boat waiting near the lock. It is over 100 years
old and was used for salmon fishing on the river Severn. The punt was once a
common sight on the river. Through the ages its shape developed with a rising
bow and stern particularly on punts built for use in the tidal reaches of the
river, where they were used extensively in connection with long-net fishing of
the salmon.
Only two of these boats remain - both built from lines passed
on through many generations. It was constructed in the 1910s by Prossers of
Minsterworth, wheelwrights, agricultural blacksmiths and carpenters. One boat
was built for Tom Greening and is now in storage at the National Maritime
Museum, London (in poor condition), and is well documented in "Working
Boats of Britain" by Eric McKee. Its sister craft, built for Anslem
Browning, fished at Bollow Pool until the 1980s when the fisheries became
uneconomic through the decline in salmon stocks. There it remained on the river
bank until 1998 when it was restored into working condition. A nice bit of
history.