A flurry of restoration activity has been taking place over the last few weeks on
Lichfield Canal around Lock 18 at Fosseway Heath.
Following on from the excavation of the canal and towpath repairs to Pound 18
between Lock 18 and Fosseway Lane Bridge by WRG volunteers with the help
of plant and equipment generously donated by Wacker Neuson, our own
volunteers have continued the restoration work in this section of the Lichfield
Canal.
Below Lock 18 the Canal basin has been cleared with an excavator kindly loaned to the Trust by Chasetown Civil Engineering and the new Nature Trail on the off side has now been landscaped and opened for the community to use.
Above Lock 18 which was restored by Trust volunteers back in 1997, the canal basin has been fully excavated up to the old Fosseway Lane Bridge which we have investigated but sadly the old brick arch road bridge appears to have been demolished and only a small section of the existing off side wing wall has been found at the lower level. We have found the original canal guide wall and by wash tunnel on the off side to be intact , albeit the coping stones have been removed but these were found in the excavated fill and just need replacing.
The canal side slopes on the offside have been carefully trimmed below the new Nature Trail which now is connected from Fosseway Lane beside the Signal Box to the Fosseway Queen Narrowboat and the ‘oss on Falkland Road.
Thanks to all the volunteers who have worked very long hours in some very wet
and difficult conditions to achieve and realise the vision of a restored Lichfield
Canal. This would not have been possible without the generous support and
help from Chasetown Civil Engineering and Whacker Neuson.
Peter Buck
