fact file Shrewsbury & Newport

Length proposed for restoration: 25 miles Locks: 25 Date closed: 1944

The Canal Camp project: Beginning rebuilding of a hut / shelter which is built into (and forms a buttress for) the northwest por tal wall of Berwick Tunnel - plus mortar pointing at Widows Bridge. .

Why? The Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust aims to open up the site as a local attraction, restoring the tunnel portal and the shelter / hut and creating an accessible path along both sides of the canal to make a circular walk for local people.

The wider picture: Much effort has been concentrated on the eastern sections around Newport and the other current main focus of work at Wappenshall Junction and warehouses, but the Trust wants to increase local awareness and suppor t for the canal along the length of the route, with the eventual aim of reopening the entire 25 miles to full navigation, and putting Shrewsbury back on the waterways network.

Canal Camp site: Berwick Tunnel

Canal Camp site: Widows Bridge

Eyton Trench Locks (not proposed for restoration)

Wappenshall

Former Shropshire tub-boat canals (not proposed for restoration) Trench friendly and helpful lot the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust gang) arrived at Uffington Village Hall to erect a dining marquee as the hall itself is quite small.

By Sunday evening everyone had arrived and after an excellent meal we went to the local pub to find they close early on a Sunday evening; we were just in time for a drink or two.

On Monday Our first job was clearing up the chainsaw gang’s mess so we could get to the work site. Messy Nigel, let’s say it was his mess! (He didn’t have time to clear up as there was a lot of felling involved) The stone-layers played ‘find the numbered stones’ whilst Mandy, Katy and Stephen did some training on how to mix lime mortar. Having found the required stones, the stone gang of Mikk, Rob, John and Alan started placing them in one of the buttress walls, which form the side walls of the ‘donkey shed’. There were no complaints about the mortar. (a first??) After erecting the access platform Mick and Katy started removing loose brickwork on the other buttress wall until firm brickwork was found.

Tuesday saw work continuing with Stephen taking the lead on mortar mixing. The local work party turned up and helped by brick cleaning and removing more chainsaw debris. After showering we had a food extravaganza, more about that later...

Wednesday saw the select band of Mikk, Alan and Stephen go to Widows Bridge to prepare the brickwork for pointing. Katy left us to sort out packing for her new house and new job. We wish her good luck. Mandy started bricklaying, clearly a hidden talent, suitably tutored by John and Rob. Mick started laying bricks on the buttress wall, as well as mixing mortar for the brick and stone gang.

Thursday saw the dream team of Mikk, Alan and Stephen go to Widows Bridge to start pointing the face of the bridge. The rest of us continued at Berwick Tunnel. where work continued on the brick and stone laying. Mandy continued laying some bricks with John’s guidance. Some of the locals went to Widows Bridge to help with removing the coping stones ready to prepare the top of the wall in order to securely bed the coping stones. By the end of the day Stephen declared that his pointing skill had improved from hopeless to very poor. More brick and stone laying at the donkey shed. Friday saw a change in the team going

The food

No camp report would be complete without a description of food so here goes...

Sunday: Slow Roast Brisket / Chick Pea Tagine / Roast Veg; assorted fruit Crumble and Custard

Monday: Chicken, Leek and Mushroom

Casserole / Mushroom and Leek Casserole; Lemon Citron Pie and Ice Cream

Tuesday: Curry Extravaganza cooked by Mikk, including Batatyachi Bhaji, Zukini Suya Ki Subzi, Sambhara, Aku Shaak, Shak Suka, all with Jasmine Rice. All delicious with home made chutneys and pickles and Nan Bread. Followed by Anne’s Mango Ice Cream.

Wednesday: Campfire Stew (gammon) and potato wedges; Surprise Pudding

Thursday: Assorted leftovers; assorted puddings and Mango Ice Cream.

Friday: Fish and Chips

Saturday: Mince Beef Stew and Jacket Potatoes; Apple and Cinnamon Cake Breakfasts were the usual selection of cooked food.

Cakes included: Lemon Drizzle, Vanilla and Chocolate Marble Cake, Victoria Sponge, Chocolate Brownies, and a small Lemon and Orange Drizzle Cake.

Well done to Anne for fabulous food and to Rob B for having seconds of everything... see photo below...

Pluses and minuses

What worked well this week:

. Small group with two small projects

. Compact hall with dining marquee

. Brilliant locals

. Breakfast at 7.45 so we got to site on time

. Lists for domestic duties

. Brilliant food

What wasn’t so good:

. Temperamental showers for the ladies, eventually sorted.

. One or two more people would have helped make the work a bit easier

. Better marking up of the stones would make selection easier to Widows bridge, Mandy took Stephen’s place so that he could lay some bricks under John’s guidance. The pointing progressed well with only a small section remaining to be completed from the upper level of the scaffold. More brick and stone laying at the donkey shed. We had an early finish to go to Norbury Junction for a fish and chip cruise to Gnosall and High Onn, organised by Anne. Nigel joined us and Bernie, chairman of the S and N, kindly bought drinks for all us WRGies, which was much appreciated.

On Saturday, our last day on site, Mandy rebuilt one of the pillars at Widows Bridge (with Alan’s guidance) whilst Mikk finished off the pointing from the top level of the scaffolding and made a start on the lower level. The rest of us did more brick and stonework and we all finished early to go to Wappenshall Wharf for a very informative guided talk.

Summing up the week: hard work, great company, glad to see Rob B back WRGing, friendly locals, lots of work done, fabulous food and thanks to the volunteers that make this possible. Many thanks from me to Mikk for making it a great week.

Mick Lilliman