REPAIRS to a dry wall has been the latest milestone ticked off for work restoring a canal south of Oswestry.
The latest working party for the canal’s restoration managed to achieve at least three steps towards completion of the project, with towpath works for a major phase also completed.
A third and largest milestone of carrying out water tests was also launched last weekend, much to the delight of Tom Fulda, Shropshire Union Society project manager.
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“As has been the case for so many of the work parties this year, a great variety of different tasks were undertaken and, once again, major milestones achieved,” said
Tom continued: “Further substantial progress has been made with repairs to the wharf wall thanks to the sterling efforts of John, Mike and Imogen of the Dry Stone Walling Association with assistance along the way from the Society’s volunteers.
“Most of the wall is now ready for final adjustment before replacing the existing copings which all have some variation in dimensions.
“Conditions permitting, this will start next work party.
“The new coping stones funded by the Association for Industrial Archaeology will be placed next year.
“Other activities undertaken were inspection and vegetation clearance around the hedging whips planted in the spring – all doing well, weeding and tidying in the compound area and moving material to the bonfire site by the stump for the next burn-up.
“Once again, a great work party. Thanks to all.”
A group spokesman added that water was pumped from the Crickheath Basin and pumped along the offside bank above the wharf wall to the two test areas, a distance of approximately 240 metres to the furthest.
More details on the society's restoration activities, including detailed work party reports, can be found at shropshireunion.org.uk/restoration
The purpose of the testing is to inform what waterproofing will be required and where (if any) and the results of this will determine what the final design and specifications will be over winter.
They added that towpath works were funded by a grant from the National Grid Community Fund.
The grant also funds further environmental improvements with tree and hedge planting which will be completed over the next couple of work parties.
Donations to support their work can be sent to the website.
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