Dredging from Dudbridge to Wallbridge
by: Peter A.
There is a plan! And it completely fills a lever arch file. This river section is going to require a significant effort to achieve full restoration as there is a vast volume of silt and fill to be removed. Please refer to Page 12 of your Summer 2026 Trow (No. 212) for a full description.
We have both our active dredgers at work. Augustus Gloop is presently in the section between Dudbridge Upper Lock heading towards Chestnut Lane swing bridge and Hamster is facing east working towards Lodgemore Lift Bridge.
The dredging is not easy. There is a lot of walling stone, rubble and other objects, often difficult to grab hold of and extract.
The section between Chestnut Lane & Lodgemore has been partially dredged using a tracked digger, this has helped create a deeper channel through which the dredger, tug and mud hoppers can move.
Today, it was hot. We started early and finished in time for a late lunch. With a slack period before an empty hopper would become available we undertook a spell of maintenance.
This included greasing the numerous points on the JCB jib and the rotating clam shell bucket, together with a couple of welding jobs on retaining chains for spud leg and boom safety latches.
Our summer is going to be spent progressing towards Wallbridge. It will be great when passage over the old sewer below the bottom lock is finally possible as there is now a date for Severn Trent to demolish it and restore the full navigation.
