Previous year (2023)

Cheshire Locks Index

2024 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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January February March April May June July August September October November

Thursday 18th January – Our first work-party of 2024 had to be cancelled because of bad weather.

Thursday 15th February – Also cancelled because of bad weather.

Thursday 21st March – Five of us attended Lock 53 this month. As you can probably guess, the weather intervened yet again. However, we soldiered on and were able to carry out prep work which will hopefully allow us to make good progress next time out. We eventually abandoned ship at about 13.00 (and, of course, it brightened up about an hour later!).

Thursday 18th April – Finally, after so many false starts, five of us managed to get some painting done at Lock 53. Thanks to the prep work done on our previous outing, we were able to start applying paint almost immediately. Good progress was made on Hammerite  painting of the metal fence adjacent to Lock 53 and applying Sadolin to the woodwork of the Lock itself. We finished half an hour early due to inevitable incoming rain but we should be able to complete both next time out. Well done everybody.

Thursday 16th May – Despite the impending rain we managed to get a couple of hours work done before we had to abandon site. The remaining lock woodwork was painted, as were the wooden bollards. The long metal fence adjacent to Lock 53 was finally completed, and some work was done on the lock bridge railings.

Thursday 20th June – At long last, we have finished our work at Lock 53. The five of us who were able to attend took advantage of the beautiful weather to prep and apply paint to the remaining section of the surrounding metal fence, plus touching up and applying second coats to areas we’d worked on previously. I think the result is a testament to the perseverance and hard work the CLWP have put in over the last few months. So thanks to one and all who contributed over that time. Here are some pictures of the finished lock (including one of the railings where the steel lock used to be). 

Thursday 28th July – A glorious Summer’s day as we started work on the Malkins Bank flight with lock 64.  All the white wood was painted, as was most of the black wood (although we ran out of black paint before finishing). Both lock ladders were also painted. Here are 2 pictures of the gates before and after our work. 

Thursday 16th August – There were 8 volunteers today, including 3 newbies. Despite the ever-present threat of rain we were able to make great progress in prepping and applying paint to the metalwork. Unfortunately, the weather did finally intervene and we had to finish about an hour early. The following day 3 of us attended a follow-up session (including another newbie). This time the weather was perfect and we made more progress on the metalwork.

Thursday 19th September – Once again the weather was kind to us and we made splendid progress on Lock 64. The 8 of us (including 1 new recruit) got most of the remaining work done, plus we were able to smarten up the metal mooring posts either side of Lock 64 and those below Lock 63. Additionally, 2 of our crew made a start on prepping and painting the beams on Lock 63.  On the Friday follow-up visit 2 of us made further good progress including the numbering of Lock 64. This means that apart from some minor finishing-off of Lock 64 we can concentrate our efforts on Lock 63 next time out.

Thursday 17th October – There were 9 of us in attendance on Thursday (including yet another newbie) plus our new Volunteer Supervisor Will Leyland which was very encouraging. With such a number to manage I was more than grateful to Roger and John B for their additional team leading skills. Myself, Colin and Rob Pearson attended a follow-up visit on Friday.
The weather was again kind to us on both days and so we were able to do a lot of work on Lock 63 and some touching-up on Lock 64. Both locks still have one chamber cordoned off which limits what we can achieve. Will has promised he will check back as to when restrictions will be lifted. We concentrated our efforts on prep and painting metalwork including the footbridge fencing.

Thursday 21st November – Our final work-party of 2024 had to be cancelled because of bad weather.