Entry: 19th November 2017
It’s always a pleasure to welcome volunteers of the Waterway Recovery Group, who were with us for almost four weeks in August – we thank them for their support on this project 🙂
Canal and River Trust Heritage Trainees have also worked on the project, gaining valuable experience.
Grantham Canal Society volunteers continue to work every day Monday to Friday – different team each day. Some of our volunteers are in more than one team – so much is their enjoyment and satisfaction in the work they do.
So, after the ‘showy’ part of the job; pouring concrete and laying new bricks, we came to the slow, painstaking part! This is – or should I say was, restoring the thrust blocks and wing walls. This part of the job is now complete. Thrust blocks are the four corners of the lock, which were deemed restorable, and were left standing when the lock chamber walls were taken down brick by brick.
With coping stones fitted, work is continuing on building retaining walls – these are the sloping walls either side of the lock.
These are necessary as part of the landscaping, due to the requirement of constructing lock moorings – and the grass banks not coming to the water’s edge.
Further work is required to wing walls and to provide lock moorings at the top end of the lock.
Dredging
Dredging is required between this lock and the previously restored three locks in the flight. Depth testing has been carried out along the half mile pound, to establish the amount of silt requiring removal – and to arrive at costings.
To this end, we have launched a Dredging Campaign – details of how you can support us in this, can be found on our homepage.
Industrial Archaeology
Mercian Archaeology, with assistance from volunteers, have carried out recording of the structure throughout the project. Detailed records continue to be produced. 
Community
This is an important element of the Heritage Lottery Fund award and part of our commitment.
Our Events Team have had a very busy season of events. Not only have they attended many shows throughout the summer, they’ve organised events at our canal depot at Woolsthorpe by Belvoir and a number of guided tours around the lock restoration site – follow us on Facebook, Twitter – see our newsletter and website diary, so as not to miss these in 2018.
Our annual Discovery Day was again a huge success, both in raising awareness and much needed funds – we all had a fabulous time! Over 700 of you visited us on the day; £2,360.50p was raised for the cause. Thank you!
Our speakers continue to be busy delivering their illustrated talks about the canal and other subjects too! Whatever the topic, speakers donate their fee to society funds. You’ll find the list of topics on the diary page of our website.
Our Education Team have visited a number of schools this year. They have recently joined forces with the Canal and River Trust ‘Explorers’. This enables them to deliver well resourced and wide ranging activities to schools and youth groups along the canal corridor. They welcome more volunteers to this fledgling team.
Training is provided by the Canal and River Trust, and DBS checking is included.
To enquire about any of the wide ranging volunteering roles, please visit our homepage.
Thank you for taking an interest.
Tony J
