Dudbridge Lower Lock
Dudbridge Lower Lock
by: Andy P.
Dudbridge Lock update March 16th 2020
A mixed sort of few weeks with odd days here and there but some progress. The coping stones are ridiculously heavy to be moved by hand even with several people. Need a plan B and disc cutter when we get around to replacing them. Cannot get the mini digger in as there is no access.
The delivery of sand and gravel had to be hand shovelled over the fence.
Then we started to take down more of the wall to expose the badly deteriorated stone wall behind.
Quite a few voids appeared, once the new red house bricks on the top layer were removed.
We gradually worked our way across to reach the previous joint which was cracked and stopped there. Then it was down all the way until the hammer tapping indicated a solid wall
As we moved down, some very large holes appeared which were all that remained of the original wooden posts, used to pin the stone wall in place. The high pressure washer was deployed to great effect, to remove much mud and debris, so that we could at least see what structure was left-not a lot in the end.
A major change as at long last we made the first batch of concrete, then mortar as we started to fill in some of the larger holes and gaps.
Before and after
Jon P provided the special but expensive wall ties and approval visits from Mike H and Ken B all gratefully received.
