Restoration Round-up
by Colin Greenall

During the past three months our volunteers have been out on four occasions. The first three at Hulme Lock Cottage and the one in March at the World of Glass.

Sunday January 11th: Work continued on the building of the rear wall that we started last year. While this was taking place an area of rough ground alongside of the wall at the north end was cleared and levelled ready to accept a layer of membrane and crushed road stone, the same was done to an area at the south end of the wall. Improvements were also made to the block paving around the well.

Sunday February 1st: Today we completed the wall at the rear of the cottage and the paving around the well some areas of block paving in the yard where taken up and relayed so that they did not present a trip hazard. Another area at the north end was laid with membrane and crushed road stone. The site was then cleared of all unwanted materials and everywhere left neat and tidy.

We are now preparing information for an interpretation board that will be erected at the site telling the history of the lock and cottage.

Sunday February 29th: During our last visit it was notice that the pond at the back of the cottage was flooded. On investigation it was discovered that the roots of a large willow tree where blocking the ditch. The plan for today was to cut down and burn the tree and clear the ditch to allow the water to drain away, this we did, although we did not remove the roots, these have been left to be chemically treated to avoid damaging nearby brickwork.

Although the day was bright and sunny it was still very cold so the bonfire provided some much-needed warmth. [See pictures - Ed.]

Whilst clearing the ditch an interesting discovery was made, the water disappeared down a thirty-inch culvert heading off under the canal and alongside this at slightly higher level was another pipe of the same size. This one was dry and sloped towards the ditch from the direction of the lock by wash, could it have been some sort of a run off channel. [See picture of Colin crawling through the culvert - Ed.]

Sunday March 14th: The day began dull with the threat of inclement weather and soon after most of the volunteers had arrived it began to rain. Our task was to clear litter and rubbish from the section of canal opposite the World of Glass, this we did - along with rest of the section in front of the Hilton Hotel and the Safeway Supermarket.

Our main equipment was grappling hooks; volunteers soon became efficient at swinging them with great accuracy at sunken supermarket trolleys as well as hooking out such things as bikes and pushchairs.

By lunchtime we had amassed a grand collection of 51 trolleys, 2 bikes, 3 pushchairs, 2 dustbins, 1 typewriter and various other bits and pieces, all this plus bags of litter went into 3 skips which had been provided by the World of Glass. After the lunch break time was spent clearing up the mess left along the towpath and another litter pick took place behind the fence that guards the railway embankment, this is where all loads of wind blown litter accumulates. When all this was complete and loaded in the skips we called it a day and went home.

Once again a big thank to everyone who turned out to do so much excellent work.

Thank you

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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