Entry: 15th October 2019
There’s more to this lock restoration project than bricks and mortar – although it has to be said – these do play a significant part! We’ve been full on running events throughout the summer, culminating in our annual Discovery Day on the 13th October. With £95,000 in match funding to raise, these events are an important aspect of the project – and the reason for this rather late update!
Few, who are following our progress, will have missed the fact that Lock 15 is now complete! The official opening took place under a blue sky on Friday 13th September – lucky for some! Local, regional and national press attended and the occasion was shown on regional TV.
Lock 14 continues to grow. Chamber walls are at full height and we’re awaiting delivery of the anchor stones – to which the gate anchors are fitted. These huge stone have been delayed due to the quarry hitting an defective seam in the strata.
Volunteers of the Waterway Recovery Group have been with us for almost the whole of July, and are to return again this weekend, 19th October for a week. Their task is weather dependent, and I understand will either be working on Lock 14 approach walls/moorings or raising the bank in areas which have been identified along the half mile pound.
Lock 13 is now entering the picture. The current project allows for the engineering survey work to be carried out on this lock. Some preliminary sample drillings were taken last week. We don’t, at present have the funding to restore this lock – but we are currently in discussions with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
