TRENT and MERSEY CANAL SOCIETY
NEWS and EVENTS DIARY
 
Cheshire Locks Project News
 
For background information see the Cheshire Locks Project website www.cheshirelocks.org.uk (opens in a  new window)
Our Treasurer and Secretary at work (Photo:Alison Smedley) 
 
For news of future Cheshire Locks working parties and events see our Diary.
These work parties currently take place on the third Thursday of each month except December. Each session starts at 10 am and finishes by 3pm (usually 2:30pm in Winter). You can turn up just for the morning, or for the afternoon, or come for the whole day and bring a packed lunch. All tools will be provided – you just need to wear stout shoes and bring waterproofs in case of rain. Contact the working party organiser, John Brighouse (or Phone 0780-887-8317) for more details.

NOTE that only the current year's working parties are now shown on this page, as it was getting too big.
Click on the link below to see the previous year (and so on back to the start of the project in August 2012). 
 
2017 Working Parties (most recent first)
(Note that clicking on a small picture will show that picture larger, but NOT at better quality) 

Thursday 17th August 2017 - We started work on Church Locks (locks 47 & 48). Most of the metalwork around both locks was prepared and painted.
 
Thursday 20th July 2017 - We tided up the other small jobs near Lock 41. First we cut-back the vegetation hiding the fingerpost at the junction with the Macclesfield Canal.
  
       Fingerpost hiding behind trees                                                            Fingerpost clearly visible afterwards  
(Photos: David Clegg)
Then we rubbed down and painted the towpath bridge (across an old over-flow weir).

  
Bridge railing and vegetation before we started                             Bridge after painting                      
(Photos: Margaret English)

Thursday 15th June 2017 - We completed painting all the railings (and even a lamp-post) at Lock 41. Two coats of gloss were used on the woodwork of the buildings, but another coat will be needed on our (hopefully, weather permitting) final visit there in July.
Lock Buildings after painting [compare with April photo]

   
Lamp Post (before rubbing down and painting)                               Lamp Post after painting                 
(Photos: David Clegg)
Thursday 28th May 2017 - Work continued at Lock 41, particularly on painting the metal work on and around the lock. Weeds were also cleared to improve the general appearance of the area.

Also, this month, John Lawson and Dave Sproston finished repainting all eight mileposts between Harecastle Tunnel and Wheelock. The first one (at Church Lock) was repainted in August 2014 by Roger Evans and Margaret English.

John Lawson & Dave Sproston with the repainted milepost (Photo: Sandra Lawson)

Tuesday 9th May 2017 - An EXTRA work party (organised at the request of the volunteers) to progress the work on Lock 41.

Thursday 20th April 2017 - Work started this month at Lock 41 (Kidsgrove Top Lock) and tremendous progress was made. The balance beams were painted and most of the white metal work around the lock was prepared and painted. By the end of the day massive improvement was clear for everyone to see. Lock 42 was completed last month but a small team returned there to add the lock numbers as the finishing touch.
Progress at Lock 41 (Photo: John Brighouse)

Thursday 16th March 2017 - Painting of lock 42 has finally been completed! After a number of months where progress has been limited by bad weather, a good team with a good day finished the painting at lock 42. In addition painting of masonry around lock 43 was done as a safety measure to mark edges; and the steps to the Macclesfield Canal at the bridge between the locks were cleared. The previous day 2 members of the group undertook a litter pick from Rode Heath to Red Bull to generally improve the area.

 

Special thanks go to the Canal Tavern adjacent to lock 41 for providing free tea & coffee to the work party and opening up their facilities for us. If you are passing do call in to demonstrate our appreciation & enjoy some friendly refreshment. Thanks also to Kidsgrove Working Men's Club for providing parking facilities.

   

     

Lock 42 - The team at work, and the finished job (Photos: John Brighouse)

 

David Clegg clearing the steps to the canal - before, during and after (Photos: John Brighouse - David, David Clegg - Steps)

Thursday 16th February 2017 - We started the day by cutting back some tree branches overhanging the Macclesfield spur. The woodwork on the lock was damp all day, so work concentrated on painting black metal work on lock 42. Good progress was made but with some disruption due to very isolated showers which unfortunately seemed to occur just very local to Kidsgrove. We also cleared a load of plastic bottles from the canal around the lock area.
 (Photo: John Brighouse)

Thursday 19th January 2017 - Despite the poor weather seven volunteers arrived eager to do what they could. They picked 17 bags of litter from the towpath and surrounding areas between Red Bull and Harecastle Tunnel.
(Photo: John Brighouse)

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