2018 Working Parties
(Note that clicking on a small picture will show that picture larger)
(All photos © John & Sandra Lawson, unless otherwise shown)

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Thursday 18th January 2018 – The work-party at Hassall Green Locks had to be cancelled because of forecast bad weather.

Thursday 15th February 2018 – The work-party at Hassall Green Locks had to be cancelled because of forecast bad weather.

Thursday 15th March 2018 – Despite yet more poor weather, we finally managed to make a start on Hassall Green Locks, painting some of the metalwork at Lock 58.

Thursday 19th April 2018 – Finally we had some good weather. The woodwork on one of the paired locks 58 was painted as well as all 8 bollards/strapping posts. Most of the metalwork on both of the paired locks was also painted.

Thursday 17th May 2018 – We managed to “almost” complete locks 58 with a very small amount of woodwork (where the white and black touch) to complete next time. We also painted the previously un-painted fence around the by-wash (black posts and white rails).

Lock 58 Bridge	Lock 58 Bywash Fence
Lock 58 Top gates	Lock 58 Bottom Gates

Thursday 21st June 2018 – Hassall Green Locks 58 finally completed.

Thursday 19th July 2018 – We started work on Hassall Green Lock 57 (the one right by the road bridge). The long wooden fence between the working lock and the buried old lock (now an overflow) was creosoted. The metal fence around the overflow was painted and the metalwork on the lock gates started.

Thursday 16th August 2018 – Work started on the woodwork of gates, with the top gate being painted black (but not white) and the bottom gates white (but not black). The continuation of the metal fence past the house was painted, as was the lock ladder hoops. Most of the metalwork on the top gates was completed (and some on the bottom gates).

Lock 57 Fence before	Lock 57 Fence after
Lock 57 Railings before	Lock 57 Railings after

Thursday 20th September 2018 – The work-party at Hassall Green Locks was postponed for 2 weeks because of forecast bad weather. Luckily the weather was better on the rearranged date of Thursday 4th October 2018, when we finished all the painting.

Thursday 18th October 2018 – We moved on to start work on Pierpoint Locks, beginning with Lock 56. After a foggy damp start to the day, the sun came out and quickly dried off the metalwork. We managed to rub-down and paint most of the white metalwork, plus both top paddles. The long wooden fence protecting the overflow weir was rubbed down and painting started (black posts from one end, white rails form the other).

Thursday 15th November 2018 – Luckily the weather was perfect (especially for mid-November). We had our regular team of volunteers including Bob and Trevor who joined us last time and also John Brighouse re-joining the fold. The added bonus was a group of 8 additional volunteers on a community volunteering day courtesy of their employers – Sapphire Global Systems – Didsbury office with Head Office in the Shard. They were put in touch with us through IWA.

We split into 2 work parties – the regulars continued and almost completed all works on Lock 56 and the “rookies” tackled the preparation of all metalwork and woodwork on Lock 55 including the big fence around the by-wash. In the afternoon nearly all the painting there was also completed . They put in a really good days work.

Lock 55 afterwards	Lock 56 afterwards

and after the numbers were added :-

Lock 56	Lock 55 bottom	Lock 55 top

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