Restoration Round-up
by Colin Greenall

As you can see from the restoration pictures, during the summer we have been hard at work at Hulme Lock Cottage. Here's a flavour of what as been happening there.

Sunday 3rd August. Another beautiful sunny day. Work commenced with the transporting of materials from the yard to the cottage. Steve the Ranger had come with a large trailer so we made good use of it. At the cottage the cement mixer was soon in action and bricklaying commenced. The HULME LOCK name stone was cemented in and by the end of the day the wall was finished, thanks to Peter and Paul with a little help from yours truly. Meanwhile Roy had made a start on rebuilding the wall that runs along the rear of site, he was ably assisted by Dave who cleared away the vegetation. While all this was going on Steve, Helen and Darren were busy moving crushed road stone up to the site.

By dinnertime Ian had used up all the sand and cement so Steve, Helen, Dave and trailer went off to B & Q for more supplies. During our break for dinner John arrived with his strimmer and was soon attacking the vegetation, what a difference it makes when you can see the whole site cleared, thanks John. When George appeared on the scene to take photographs the site was buzzing with activity, so there was plenty for him to capture on camera. Peter had been busy rebuilding the boiler ring in the washhouse that had been damaged by vandals, Roy and Dave were in the ditch rebuilding a wall, Paul was putting the finishing touches to the north end retaining wall and John was raking up the cuttings from his strimming. Another good day's work.

Sunday 10th August. After a week of glorious sunshine this Sunday dawned dull and gloomy, by the time I was ready to set off for Winwick it was beginning to rain, before long it became a downpour with thunder, lightening and hailstones. On reaching the yard it was dry, but not for long down came the rain and we spent the next hour sheltering in the shed. Once the rain had stopped the sun came out and it was decided to make a start. On site Roy and Peter set about the rear wall while I mixed the cement Some levelling was require first before any serious bricklaying could begin. When Paul arrived he and yours truly made a start on laying the top layer of headers on the part of the wall that was finished up to this point. Although there were only four of us on site a fair amount was accomplished despite the early morning rain.

Sunday 14th September. Once again the weather was kind to us as the sun shone all day. The cement mixer was soon in action as Roy and Ron continued to lay bricks on the rear wall. When Paul arrived he was keen to continue with the task of putting on the top layer of headers, so Darren and I just kept on mixing cement and supplying bricks. When Dave appeared he made a start on digging out the rest of the rear wall at the Dallam end (south), he was later joined by George and between them made a big impact on that area, clearing masses of vegetation, bricks and the odd interesting items like a complete 2lb size jam jar with the letters C.T.G. on the base and also the numbers 172 plus O and 3, if any one can identify this jar I would be pleased to hear from them. By the end of the day the wall had grown and a section completed, thanks to everyone.

If anyone is interested in joining our work parties please contact Colin Greenall: Tel 01744 731746 (evenings) 01744 732031 (daytime) e-mail colin.greenall@btopenworld.com.

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