Unless stated, all material © Stover Canal Trust 2023
Charity Number, 1138316 Company Number: 5835573
Restoration of the Graving Dock Lock - 2015/2016
The Graving Dock Lock was a dry dock used for the repair and maintenance of barges. It is situated about half a mile south of
the canal terminus at Ventiford basin. Restoration work involved the partial dismantling of the massive lock masonry, clearing it
of tree roots and repointing. A boiler used in the process of bending wooden boards has been reinstalled into its housing.
Volunteers from the Waterways Recovery Group spent two weeks carrying out the work. They are all members of the Inland
Waterways Association and give of their free time to restore old canals all over the country.
The work was funded by a grant to enable the restoration of this nationally unique and important canal structure.
This project was supported by a restoration grant from the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA). The AIA is the
national society for industrial heritage, and has supported and promoted the study, preservation and presentation of
industrial heritage in Britain since 1973. For more information please visit www.industrial-archaeology.org
The Waterway Recovery Group attracts a wide range of people, from young volunteers taking part in the Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award Scheme; to waterway enthusiasts who wish to make a contribution to restoring and preserving the
system; to people who just want to get outdoors, have fun and learn new skills. www.waterways.org.uk/wrg/
The lock had become overgrown
and choked with vegetation, as seen
in this photo from 2002.
Trees had grown through the granite walls.
Clearance was always going to be a major
job requiring money for equipment and
materials, and manpower.
The experienced WRG volunteers made rapid
progress. The difference could clearly be seen
after just one week.
They also were seen on local TV!
Here you can see
where a tree had to be
removed by hand.
Those on the opposite wall
needed the use of heavy
machinery. This work was carried
out in early October by local
contractors.
All
credit
is
given
to
Castleford
Engineering
and
particularly
Andy
on
the
machine
in
the
early
works
with
mason
Davin,
seen
here
placing
one
of
the
granite
blocks.
The
skill
shown
by
both
in
moving
such
huge
pieces
with
such
a
delicate
touch
was
a
joy to watch!
Our thanks go to all the people and organisations that have made the restoration possible.
Also on site were the remains of the structure where water was boiled to steam the wooden planks into shape.
The base was reinstated and the cauldron was retrieved from the bed of the lock.
The brickwork was built up to form the flue which directed smoke and hot air around the cauldron for maximum efficiency.
Here is the boiler in October 2016.
Craftsman Rob Brotherston has used
Lime mortar in the authentic reconstruction.
The scaffolding was finally removed at the end of October to reveal a sight not seen for a generation.
Work continued in the Spring of 2016.
Our wonderful mason, Davin, and his assistant have repointed the cobbles along the base of the dry
dock using as many of the original stones as could be found on-site. Also, we aim to complete the
rebuild of the boiler structure - see below. This is a continuation of the restoration work started in
2015.
The majority of this years work is funded by Tesco who teamed up with Groundwork earlier this year
to launch its Bags of Help initiative in hundreds of regions across England and Wales. The scheme
sees three community groups and projects in each of these regions awarded grants of £12,000,
£10,000 and £8,000 – all raised from the 5p bag charge. Shoppers voted us into second place in the
Teignbridge event in March.
We
are
very
grateful
to
Tesco
for
including
the
work
of
the
Stover
Canal
Trust
in
their
scheme
-
work
which is done for the benefit of the community at large, whose support we also appreciate.
Reconstruction of the Boiler.
During
October
2016
we
contracted
a
large
machine
to
dredge
the
silt
from
the
bottom
of
Graving
Dock
Lock
and
to
remove
some
large
tree
roots
from
the
area
of
the
overflow
weir.
Castleford
Engineering
is
a
local
firm
from
Liverton
who
specialise
in
water
based
civils
work
and
helped
us
last
year
with
the
reconstruction
of
the
lock
walls.
Local
mason
Davin
Foster
from
Bishopsteignton
trades
as
the
Rural
Craftsman
and
was
also
on
hand
to
lend
his
experience
in
rebuilding
the
weir.
Davin
reinstated the lock walls last year and regrouted the bed of the graving dock earlier this year.
The works used the last of the funds we won in a public vote from the Tesco 'Bags of Help' scheme.
And re-placement of the masonry is so much easier…
Tree root removal takes no time with the right equipment!
The finished restoration.
The lock pictured during the December 2015 flooding.
Built by our forefathers, preserved for our grandchildren
And here in June 2017 with the steambox
in place.
