BITM NEXT DIG October 2009
David James suffered a burst appendix last night (Fri 9th) and is now in hospital recovering. He and June will therefore not be coming to this dig. Graham Hotham has volunteered to cook, unless anyone else wants to step in? There are likely to be about 16 of us.
At this dig we will be discussing our next six months digs, and whether/where/when to hold a summer camp. If you have any preferences or ideas, please let us know – preferably in advance. More details elsewhere in this newsletter.
The minutes from our March AGM are now available to download 2009_agm_minutes.pdf
BITM Leader: Will Wilkinson.
Cosgrove Village Hall, 39 Bridge Road, Cosgrove
Post code: MK19 7JH
OS Grid ref: (OS Map 152) SP 794 427
Our accommodation is at Cosgrove, near the junction of the Buckingham Arm with the Grand Union.
Cosgrove Village Hall is a large comfortable hall with good kitchen and washing facilities, and plenty of parking space. There is usually a Judo club meeting in the large hall until 9:30pm on Friday evening but we can use the small hall and the kitchen via the side entrance if we arrive early – or just go to the Barley Mow!
We’re working near the other end of the canal, in the Hyde Lane nature reserve near Buckingham. The brickwork at the top of the chamber wall has been repaired, which should make it safer for us to go in and clear the chamber of many years of silt.
At the "Little Chef" roundabout junction of A5, A508 and A422 take the A508 towards Northampton and turn first right for Cosgrove and follow the lane for about a mile, into the village. At the cross-roads keep straight on (a no-through-road), across Bridge 65 (Solomon’s Ornamental Bridge) over the canal, round a right-hand bend and you’ll find the village hall on your left, set slightly back from the road. There is plenty of parking space, and if you follow the instructions for arriving by boat, you’ll find the pub is about 3 minutes walk from the hall.
From the M1 J14 This route may look odd, but involves the least number of roundabouts. Take the A509 north towards Newport Pagnall. Turn left at the first roundabout onto the A422 towards Buckingham. Keep on this road for about 6 miles and 8 roundabouts until you come to the junction with the A5 at Abbey Hill Roundabout. Turn right onto the A5 northbound (still signposted Buckingham). At the next roundabout (5 miles up the dual carriageway) turn right onto the A508 towards Northampton as described above.
From the M1 J15 Take A508 south towards Buckingham. If you miss both the left turns for Cosgrove, turn back when you reach the A5 and follow the directions above.
From the M40 J11 Take A422 via Brackley and Buckingham, then A422 until you reach the A508 and follow directions above.
From the M40 J9 Take A41, A4421, A421 to Buckingham, then follow the ring road until you reach the A422. This takes you up to the A508 as above.
Milton Keynes Central Station (near the junction of A509 and A5) is the easiest for being picked up.
Alternatively the nearest station for walking is Wolverton, which is by the Grand Union canal. Walk along the towpath for 2 miles from bridge 71 to 65, crossing the Great Ouse Aqueduct (Iron Trunk). If you come to a modern aqueduct after only half-a-mile, you’ve gone the wrong way.
Meet in the Barley Mow pub on Friday evening, from about 9:30pm onwards (unless you want to eat there). This is only about 300 yards away, via the horse tunnel under the canal. (Keep your head down!) There is a skittles table.
You can get detailed OS maps, and aerial photos, covering the area at:
http://www.multimap.com or http://www.streetmap.co.uk or http://www.mappoint.msm.com
Use the Fast Search for MK19 7JH (accommodation) or MK18 6AH (site). There are buttons for generating a printable map, route planning, weather forecast, etc.
Hyde Lane Lock.
Post code: MK18 6AH (approx – Home Farm on other side of A422.)
OS Grid ref: (OS Map 152) SP 725 348
Right out of hall, over bridge, straight on until you turn left onto the A508. At roundabout take 3rd exit A422 towards Buckingham. Follow A422 for 5.7 miles, then turn left onto farm track. There is a locked gate, so you will need to arrive at the same time as the rest of us. Follow the farm track until you reach a car park on the left. Walk anticlockwise round the lake until you reach the dry canal bed above Hyde Lane Lock.
Brick-laying, building steps on the off-side tail wall, which will need Phill Cardy plus a support team. Hand-mixing as it’s too difficult to get a mixer down there.
Chamber clearance, if some pump problems can be sorted out. This will be a simple barrow-run, as there is no access to get a barrow hoist to site.
There is also some hedge-laying, although our experts Di & Rachael won’t be with us this month, because it’s the Wilts & Berks AGM.
Pointing – brickwork at the tail end of the lock.
Pulling out reeds, which are completely choking the canal downstream of the lock. These need to be pulled out with kebs, then wheelbarrowed away.
Some trees need to be tirfored out.
In the not-quite-dry upper pound it has been suggested that shallow ponds could be dug by hand to hold water.
Will Wilkinson
Athina Beckett
It is essential that we all wear Hard Hats, safety footwear, gloves and high-visibility waistcoats on site. We have a few spare hard hats in the van, plus about a dozen hi-vis waistcoats. If you have your own, please bring it.
Bookings:
email bookings@wrgBITM.org.uk
Phone Graham Hotham 01252-656087.
Athina runs local work parties on the second Sunday of the month, and alternate Thursdays
http://www.buckinghamcanal.org.uk/