Ham Mill - Weds March 13^th 2019

by: Andy P.

On a really cold day 5 folks, Bob, Duncan, Mathew, Richard and Andy started on the day’s jobs.  First one being a safety inspection, from which a few things to do and remember, were highlighted.

Duncan used BD to raise the dam as there was a danger the water would flow back into our pond.

Bob used the disc cutter to help us take the wing wall bricks out, one at a time using traditional tools.  That is until Dave C arrived with the modern day breaker-far better.  Individual bricks then being taken out using the arbortech- even better still.  Eventually we reached the water level and were able to stand in the canal using the waste brick platform we had built up. The dimensions all around being checked using a spare piece of pipe.

The last piece of pipe was cut and correctly angled and made ready to be fitted. Out first mortar mix for a long time was made, as Bob laid the bottom courses of bull nose bricks, as this will be the only visible part of all this work.  Nobody will know we have been here.

Visitors today were Jim the boss, Alan Jones and Mike Hughes, so lots of discussions about misunderstanding sheet piles, landing stages, trial pits and even timings. Marvellous.  The canal was being widened until BD fell ill again and stopped altogether.  Think it needs some TLC.  Quite a lot really.

A delivery of cement, sand, gravel, blocks, rebar and mesh, blocked the roadway whilst it was all unloaded.  It’s good to see some above ground materials so we can get out of this stucking mud.

Project 'DNF' - No.5 Refit

More welding, more grinding, some filling and a bit of painting.  So the work to repair the cabin continued today.  Just the doors remain to be dealt with for their metal worm along the lower edges.

There was an air of 70's car repairing with  aroma of Isopon drifting up from the process of making good the welded panels.  

Paint has now been applied to the bare metal and much of the rest of the surfaces given a good rub down.  'Dredger No.5' has now been reduced to dust!

A leak on the port side gutter had resulted in an area of rust which required cutting out and new metal letting in.  The interior surfaces still require preparation for painting.

Out on the superstructure, laying of the floor continued with the preparation of wooden support beams.  The fuel tank cross link hoses  were trial fitted and a scheme to protect them devised. This still needs further work.

Another visit from our hydraulics man today.  Also, components for the new control panel have been ordered.  Battery leads need to be prepared and terminated.  ...….Getting there.

SDC Tuesday Gang

by: Ian Moody

Great turnout yesterday, despite the wind and rain.  Workboat Flea was put to work for the first time, removing weeds from Brewery Wall and fishing junk out of the canal.

It’s a little known fact that the real reason canals were built in the 18^th Century was so we had somewhere to throw supermarket trolleys.

The rest of the team set about installing the huge stone which will display the plaque commemorating the opening of Wallbridge Lower lock by HRH The Prince Of Wales.  It’s “just a stone” but it weighs around 1 tonne and was installed using only hand tools. Nice job folks!  I’ll try to arrange some sunshine for next week.

Summit Working Party this Sunday

by: Karen S.

Hi Everyone

Just a reminder about next Sunday's work party from 10 am to 3/4 pm, when we will try to finish the off bank down to the road bridge; burning the rest of the saplings cut down last time and cutting back the new growth from the portal, that has grown up since we started the off bank in 2017.

New members are very welcome to come along for all or part of the day. I usually provide tea / coffee and Christine a cake, but please feel free to bring along your own hot or cold drinks, and a packed lunch or have lunch in the pub.

As usual, please wear sturdy (preferably steel toe capped) footwear or wellington boots and stout clothes. Long sleeves and trousers are recommended to avoid nettle stings and insect bites.  Gloves and all other PPE are provided along with all necessary tools, apart from chain saw equipment.

The site is reached by a well sign-posted but rather pot holed track to the Tunnel House Inn on the right, as you come down Tarlton Road out of Coates and after a tight bend under a railway bridge. Postcode is GL7 6PW.  On arrival at the pub car park, please park on the right.

Dates for the next work parties are:

Sunday 21 April 2019

Sunday 12 May

Any questions please contact me: Karen Shaw on: shawk30<at>gmail<dot>com

Looking forward to some good weather and to seeing you all.

Ham Mill  - Monday March 11^th 2019

by: Andy P.

Despite the cold, 8 people arrived at various times, Bob, Duncan, Mathew, Jason, Kay, Richard, Maurice and Andy.  A job list was prepared on the white board. F irst was oiling, greasing and fueling the diggers and so pleased to see the mini digger back-easily pleased we are sometimes.  BD brought into place to lift out the trench box for the last time and lay it peacefully on its side awaiting collection.  It served us well.

Then infilling and some severe ground tamping to force the muddy stuff back together. 

Back into the trench after pumping out the water.  More brick cutting, more digging, more mud.  It’s horrible. Stucking mud came to mind.

The water pump was moved into place onto the new dam and following a spring clean to remove the odd muddy bits, it was fired up and spent the rest of the day moving water over the dam.

Another causeway is being built to allow MD to get to the fallen wall and go footings exploring.

Dave C and Buffers arrived with fuel (thank you) and we joined them on a Brimscombe trip to bring back some of the hollow blocks for their 3^rd visit to site.

Reg bought a box of grease tubes and some more fuel (thank you as well) and we gossiped a while over a cup of tea.  A pleasant 10 minutes before his chair broke.

Another small length of pipe was fitted and then the last bend.  Those joints fiercely resisting to the bitter end despite MD and sledge hammers just ‘pushing the pipes together’. Exhausting.  The brickwork into the canal was cut and brick by brick it is being dismantled.  Also exhausting.

The end is near.

Project 'DNF' - No.5 Refit

To be able to take the covers off and know that that the rain will stay away makes for a day of good progress.

Out in the barn, No.5's cabin ended the day with all the rotten metal replaced around the lower quarters.  The newly stitched in metal will require filling before paint is applied.  There remains the two doors to attend to on Wednesday and some remedial work to the roof.  

To be able to restore the cab has taken some time to achieve, but more importantly, cost considerably less that finding and purchasing an alternative.  At leas we know that it will fit.

Out in the yard, we unbolted the engine for a period to allow us to finally install the two fuel tanks.  They are now clean inside, piped up and ready to accept fuel.

We also took the decision to reinstate the two high pressure hydraulic oil filters.  They were taken to the workshop, stripped and cleaned before affixing in their original locations down in the hold.

Later in the day, our attention turned to the flooring in the engine room.  The basic 'landing stage' deck has now been cut, we just need to add supports to certain areas around the edges.  This will give us a clean and very grippy floor area with some of the services routed underneath. 

Late last week, John & Gill managed to apply yellow paint to about half the main boom, this work will continue soon, weather permitting.

A good days work by all.  Thank's guys.

Patricia’s Left Hand

by: Bob H.

Today saw a change in Patricia’s disposition!
After suffering an annoying hydraulic leak last week, (fixed by Andrew R and his team) we set out today to get closer to Ryeford Lock - but on the other (towpath) side. 

With a very able and careful Tug team (Dave Pash. in charge) the empty hopper was beautifully placed in position and we began dredging to clear the landing stage. 

New recruit Harry H showed his experience on a 360 degree excavator to great effect and soon we were filling the hopper with the usual mix of bricks, silt, tree detritus and other lovely stuff.

By the day’s end, we could get Patricia alongside one end of the landing stage, a great step forward - especially since we were loading “Left handed!”


“May all locks be in your favour.”