HARDWORKING volunteers have completed the restoration of another important structure on the Wilts & Berks Canal.
They recently finished the ‘waiting wall’ on the flight of three locks which once lifted narrowboats almost 30 feet on their journey between Melksham and Chippenham.
Crews moored up at the wall while they waited to travel through the final chamber at the top of the flight or visited the adjacent lock-keepers cottage. The work is one of several important projects along the stretch of canal north of Lacock.
It was carried out by the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.
Volunteers spent almost a year on the project, which involved rebuilding 18 metres of wall which was almost two metres high, to complete the 35-metre length between the two higher locks, known as Middle Lock and Top Lock.
Canal Trust work party organiser Ray Canter said, “The original wall was in a very poor condition so we had to start from scratch, building back up again from the foundations.
“It was a major piece of work as the new structure needed to be strong enough to retain all of the soil on the slope behind it but we had a great team of volunteers who worked in all weathers.
“Many of them were retired bricklayers, builders and engineers whose expertise was invaluable, while other volunteers helping with mixing mortar and concrete, or cleaning the original 19th century bricks so they could be reused.
“There was lots of interest from the public. The site is next to the towpath so people often stopped to ask what we were doing and wanted to learn more about the charity.”
Volunteers are also rebuilding the dry dock and the carpenter’s workshop – which will be used as a resource and learning centre for schools – while other groups are creating new woodland and wildflower meadows to boost biodiversity.
The charity has already restored more than a mile of the waterway and hopes to continue south to a new ‘Melksham Link’ which would connect to the Kennet & Avon Canal via the River Avon.
Ray added, “We have lots of opportunities for people to join us, from fundraising and engineering to the physical activities such as work parties. Every hour of support is always appreciated.”
The objective of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Melksham, Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon, with several sections already rebuilt.
Visit www.wbct.org.uk
