Dock Lock-the return. Oct – Dec 2025
by: Andy P.
After a 2 month work transfer to John Robinson lock we all returned to Dock Lock to try to finish off all the remaining jobs. The largest being to dig out and repoint the endless lines of mortar, along with the task we were avoiding. This was fitting the coping stones to the offside slope. At least it was dry and we could sit down for the pointing.
With additional help from Bob A. we moved some coping stones up the bank and into the estimated finished positions. Some of the larger stones were cut to size. Measure twice and cut once was our motto as there was nothing spare if we got it wrong. We had to make a level platform above where the stop planks would need to be lowered down. This inevitably needed a step or two to make it work. A bit of lateral thinking and a coping stone was cut and stood on end and this did the trick.
In the background you can just see the quadrant wall being rebuilt by the SDC crew using the old and some new blue engineering bricks. Another 2 or 3 courses left to do.
As it seems to now be a regular case for us, we have found another void. This one is in a different place. While clearing out the offside paddle gear pit, a small hole was found. After a bit of digging it turns out to be large, reaching back a long way under the stone slab. Cutting out the floor brickwork, the end of the hole was established. It also went sideways to the edge of that brickwork. Very odd as no brick work was under the slab. It seems to be held by a metal beam on the front edge. A lock that keeps on giving. We could not decide if the slab should come out or try to work around it.
Duncans magic tools won the debate and out it came. The hole was refilled. Maybe we might find the same on the other side. Tension mounting.
Our trusted technical and specialised piece of equipment found some brickwork on the towpath side that was of concern. This was the result below. Suffice to say it has all been rebuilt.
An obvious job to complete was to add the jack posts and paddle frames.
Richard, Steve and Jon had successfully completed this at Blunder lock and so were well placed to repeat this at Dock and John Robinson lock. A big challenge is the weight of the Jack post at about 140 kg, which is really tricky when fitting on the far side. Some time ago we bought a lifting beam to help with this process but it had never been put to use, until now. Think it is fair to say it was difficult to put together and we needed the help of the digger crew to do the final lift.
After the LOLER test, we put it to good use and it has taken the strain for moving and holding the posts and winding gear. Dismantling will pose a similar challenge. But we have a cunning plan!
We have been concentrating on completing the North off side, which we have done now. So it’s off to the south side next.
As you can see below the brickwork or rather the pointing is really bad mainly on the previous repairs. It’s odd as some mortar is solid whilst some is just soft and has come away. There is a lot of it and it will need raking out and repointing-this will take some time at the worst time of the year. We will not finish by the end of the year.
We started to dismantle the off side scaffold which we used for our scaffold refresher course. This now allows us the reach the full height of the towpath side in what is the deepest lock on the Eastington flight. We are getting there slowly.
