July 26-28
Job Done! The second work party in July saw the towpath finished and lining and blocking completed in Phase 1B.
This report covers the second work party in July including the days leading up to it. As previously reported, due to the extremely wet winter and remaining high ground water levels, works in Phase 1A at the north end of the site by Crickheath Wharf have been delayed. To ensure all necessary work is completed before this section fills with water again over winter (or in the autumn!), a contractor George was engaged from the start of the week to profile the channel. Society volunteers continued the job during the work party and enormous progress has now been made.
Work to upgrade the towpath in this area has also started. Last year, thanks to a generous grant from the Oswestry Rural Parish Council, the towpath was improved from a muddy slip and trip hazard to a hard surface. Now, as heavy plant operations draw to a conclusion in much of this area, the finished spec towpath can be constructed without fear of damage by the heavier works. This work party, a total of 32 metres of towpath was constructed.
There is still much more to do but we are now ahead of schedule.
Phase 1B also saw tremendous progress with towpath construction completed, construction of a temporary dam at the north end of the section and, with a heroic effort on Saturday, lining and blocking finished by ‘close of play’. Thanks to all the volunteers who pulled out all the stops to achieve this on a rather wet and muddy site. There just remains a small length of bank above water level to finish off next work party.
Finally, it must be recorded the remains of a ‘ghost boat’ were unearthed. Local resident Roy advises the boat was reputedly haunted after the owner was killed by a guillotine lock. No one else wished to operate the boat and it was eventually abandoned at the south end of Crickheath Wharf.
