IT may not be as big as the Great Wall of China, nor as picturesque as Hadrian’s Wall, but IT, unlike the previously mentioned walls, is now completed. IT, of course, being the new towpath wall at our Fosseway site. The wall stretches from beyond the new Wetlands Area, just up to where the steps cross the bed of the canal, all the way back to Falkland Road: say, a length of about 200 yards or more? The final bricks have been laid, towpath topping has been applied and compacted to make a nice comfortable walking surface and an escape ladder has been installed just short of the canal’s sharp right hand turn to follow Falkland Road. It’s been a bit of a marathon for our volunteers. Our bricklayers and those who think they can lay bricks have had issues at times over the months it has taken to build the wall. I think we have learnt a few lessons, and that again all our volunteers are singing from the same hymn sheet. I would like to thank Roger and Jean B and also Rick The Brick for all the time and effort they applied to this construction.
Still down at the Falkland Road end of our Fosseway Site, it is plain to see what a huge amount of work has been done in this sizable turning pound. We’ve had students from the Walsall College practising their bricklaying skills building this pound’s perimeter walls, the lower levels in blockwork with several courses of bricks higher up. The students began their Summer break mid July leaving the wall partially constructed. Our own volunteers took over the task. They laid bricks, they laid concrete blocks, they mixed batch after batch of concrete to infill between the walls, and this wall is now completed along it’s length adjacent to the railway lines. There is still, of course the capping layer of bricks to be laid by Rick T.B. and some subsequent finishing touches. Thanks in particular to volunteers Brian W., Brian G., Adam, Matt, and of course our own Chris A.
Elsewhere along the Fosseway site, but at the far end at Fosseway Lane, a huge onslaught by our very own volunteers together with an enthusiastic two week camp of the Waterway Recovery Group volunteers (WRGies), have transformed the area. The canal base was excavated to its original level all the way up to Fosseway Lane, exposing the foundations of the original road bridge This has since been back-filled for safety reasons. All this work became possible thanks to the loan of 14.5 ton excavator from Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd. Mention in dispatches must include Peter B., Bob W., Tony G., Dex, Chris A., to name just a few. Sterling work by Paul J. and John M. in re-establishing a professional footpath alongside Wally G’s canal side cottage.
In addition to all this activity on the walls, just look around to see what has been happening to the old Lock 19. This discarded redundant Lock has been resurrected into a island. This island is now known as Swan Island. Two swans (the result of Jean Buck’s skilful manipulation of chicken wire), have squatted thereon. Hence the island had to be named Swan Island. Also as you look around you will notice the half sized canal narrow boat, constructed in brick on top of the bank alongside Falkland Road. You will also see, across on the other side of our access drive a horse tied to a towing line to this boat. The brainchild of Steve W., and Peter B., and of course Rick T.B. These items, it seems, must have impressed the Lichfield in Bloom judges as yet again we walked away with the first class honours gold award. Read more here.
Returning to Tamworth Road, activity has been confined to the workshop/ compound area adjacent to Lock 26. Excavations between Gallows Wharf and Gallows Reach are stalled through lack of manpower, lack of usable machinery and inclement weather. However at Lock 26, a tractor has been restored, a full sized horse silhouette has been made, and a substantial bridge for Lock 18 has been made all in addition to keeping our ageing machines in use. We have to vacate the Tamworth Road site shortly, except the workshops. Steve W.,and his merry crew of Tony G., and Harry W., have even managed to clear much of the field adjacent to the workshops as it is to be handed back for housing development shortly.
Lock 25 has at last had its cill beam installed and concreted in place, a bit of brickwork around its ends still needs to be done. With all the rain recently, the Tamworth Road Locks section has started to look the genuine article. In spite of the presence of the big pipe still in Pound 25 water was building up within it. In Pound 27 the water was at full depth, showing how the weir would work when the canal is functional, and most exciting thing to me was the sight of water cascading out of Pound 27 over the narrows just before the A51. A first, and a chance to see whether it will hold water or not. Thanks to all who have helped this last quarter, Great works and more to come.
Hugh Millington
