Awesome. Just got this through from CaRT..
July 28th..
Lock #104 (Southcote) is one down from Fobney lock.. a lock we need to get through to get back to Reading and then the Thames.
It seems that as a boat was coming up the lock.. (photo from a little while ago when it was in one piece, and I do remember saying to the kids at the time.. watch the bow.. I don’t want to get jammed in the hole in the gate!) :
.. and as the lock was filling, the bow fender got wedged in the gap in the gate. The people locking the boat up did not notice the unfolding issue – until the gate was lifted from the bottom cup and ended up ripping the stonework away from the wall as the boat lifted the gate up and out of the canal. The point they may have realised there was an issue was possibly when the gate was lose, and the water inrush suddenly increased as there was no gate holding the water back anymore!
So.. That’s that then.. that’s going to take a while to fix.. so were going to be on the K&A for a while yet.. but keeping an eye on the updates…
August 5th..
Mobilisation is underway to repair damage to Lock 104 near Reading on the #KennetAndAvon #Canal A large crane manoeuvred the crane barge into the water at Burghfield. In the next few days we will start to remove the gate and dam and then we can assess damage to the lock wall.
August 8th
The set up for repairing Southcote Lock 104 is complete. The lock gate that was knocked out of position was lifted today. Good progress @TheRothenGroup
August 9th
This is what’s going on under the water at the damaged Lock 104 on the #KennetAndAvon 1st pic shows the bottom of the gate resting on the bed when it should sit in a cup in which it rotates. 2nd shows some of the damage. 3rd – spectators!
August 10th
Morning all. Here’s an update for you on Southcote Lock 104 on the #KennetAndAvon. The 1st pic shows cracking below waterline which will require investigating before repair work can start. The 2nd shows that all the loose material has been removed from the damaged area.
Oh dear! On inspection the damage is far worse than we thought at Southcote Lock 104 #KennetAndAvon The stone recess copings are cracked and damaged and we will have get some made by a stonemason. Pls check the notice tomorrow when it will be updated
Latest update for you at Soutchcote Lock 104 #KennetAndAvon. Today we are lifting out the last of the damaged masonry before the rebuild can start. Thank you for all your hard work
@TheRothenGroup
August 17th
Latest pics from Southcote Lock 104 #KennetAndAvon New stone quoins had to be cut to fit gate, original stonework rebuilt and brickwork renewed. The top stone anchor block had to be fixed in place with steel threaded bar; the repaired quoin Great progress @TheRothenGroup
August 19th
Wonderful news. Repairs to Southcote Lock 104 #KennetAndAvon have been completed and the first few waiting boats have been allowed through. Well done to all those who worked so hard to get this finished in good time @TheRothenGroup
So.. 3 Weeks to rebuild a lock wall, have the stones replaced, re-fix the collar supports, remount and REPAIR the gates and get the lock tested, filled and the dam’s removed.
Not bad CRT/Rothen Group (I expected it to be a month or more).. Well done !
August 22nd
Were going through the lock ourselves on the way back to the Thames.. and look at that.. a few more “Barge boards” have been added to the inside of the gates to stop this happening again!
