Middlewich Branch breach - Shropshire Union

[LadyG]

looks a bit narrow, is it "open"?

In post 558 there was reference to stank planks.

"Stank planks just before Wardle lock maintain the level of this reach about 2’ below normal"   is this a canal term, Funnily enough, a few weeks ago, I was discussing "stank" with my brother who is a civil engineer with world wide water expertise, and we both agreed stank is a scottish term for a manhole cover of the large square variety.

 

Edited December 15, 2018 by LadyG

[OldGoat]

4 minutes ago, LadyG said:

looks a bit narrow, is it "open"?

In post 558 there was reference to stank planks.

"Stank planks just before Wardle lock maintain the level of this reach about 2’ below normal"   is this a canal term, Funnily enough, a few weeks ago, I was discussing "stank" with my brother who is a civil engineer with world wide water expertise, and we both agreed stank is a scottish term for a manhole cover of the large square variety.

 

It's a term with which I am familiar - e.g. "stank off a section of canal"

[Pluto]

9 minutes ago, LadyG said:

looks a bit narrow, is it "open"?

In post 558 there was reference to stank planks.

"Stank planks just before Wardle lock maintain the level of this reach about 2’ below normal"   is this a canal term, Funnily enough, a few weeks ago, I was discussing "stank" with my brother who is a civil engineer with world wide water expertise, and we both agreed stank is a scottish term for a manhole cover of the large square variety.

 

There are several uses of the term, but this is probably the most relevant:

stank

 (stæŋk) 

n

1. (Civil Engineering) a small cofferdam, esp one of timber made watertight with clay

2. (Physical Geography) dialect Scot and Northern English a pond or pool

vb

(Civil Engineering) (tr) to make (a stream, cofferdam, etc) watertight, esp with clay

[C13: from Old French estanc, probably from estancher to stanch]

[TheBiscuits]

3 hours ago, The Ents said:

The water is just a measure of the rain we’ve had!

Looks like the L&L in August, for much the same reason!

[LadyG]

24 minutes ago, OldGoat said:

It's a term with which I am familiar - e.g. "stank off a section of canal"

There is a Scottish connection 

https://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/view/id/5318/type

 

I just found it strange that brother has not come across the usage, I believe he currently is writing a book about Telford, the first Civil Engineer and other things. It might be a textbook, I am not sure, I have not been sent a draft. 

My perception of leather tanning in the traditional way, involved a series of interconnected tanks,  which held hides which were being processed. So I can see the connection.   

Edited December 15, 2018 by LadyG

[ditchcrawler]

4 minutes ago, LadyG said:

looks a bit narrow, is it "open"?

In post 558 there was reference to stank planks.

"Stank planks just before Wardle lock maintain the level of this reach about 2’ below normal"   is this a canal term, Funnily enough, a few weeks ago, I was discussing "stank" with my brother who is a civil engineer with world wide water expertise, and we both agreed stank is a scottish term for a manhole cover of the large square variety.

 

Commonly used around East Anglia when you stank off a waterway, not so common I have found on the canals. Interesting little read about it here http://nbchalkhillblue.blogspot.com/2017/02/lapworth-to-stank-or-to-stop.html

[The Ents]

I first came across the term stank from the British Waterway lockkeeper at Foxton. One of the locks was being repaired and stank planks were in use.

Mike/

[The Ents]

Same thing, I think.

mike.

[Iain_S]

33 minutes ago, LadyG said:

looks a bit narrow, is it "open"?

In post 558 there was reference to stank planks.

"Stank planks just before Wardle lock maintain the level of this reach about 2’ below normal"   is this a canal term, Funnily enough, a few weeks ago, I was discussing "stank" with my brother who is a civil engineer with world wide water expertise, and we both agreed stank is a scottish term for a manhole cover of the large square variety.

 

Also a pond, usually man made, and thus including some sort of dam.

See Theft Act 1607 ? 

 

[Mike Todd]

3 hours ago, The Ents said:

‘Tis was Tuesday. Lower dam removed, removing upper dam which also carried the vehicle access ramp.

The water is just a measure of the rain we’ve had!

Mike.

I know that the pic is very foreshortened, but which bridge is that in the distance?

[The Ents]

5 minutes ago, Mike Todd said:

I know that the pic is very foreshortened, but which bridge is that in the distance?

It is the bridge Byron Stanthorn lock. On a good day you can see the lock gates through the bridge ‘ole!

Mike.

[Mike Todd]

9 minutes ago, The Ents said:

It is the bridge Byron Stanthorn lock. On a good day you can see the lock gates through the bridge ‘ole!

Mike.

Thanks - still a bit bemused - where were you standing when you took it? (Trying to align this pic with the ones I have when the canal was full)

 

and: I have now looked back at your July 7 pix and have a better idea - amazing how foreshortening changes the impression!

Edited December 15, 2018 by Mike Todd

[The Ents]

6 minutes ago, Mike Todd said:

Thanks - still a bit bemused - where were you standing when you took it? (Trying to align this pic with the ones I have when the canal was full)

 

and: I have now looked back at your July 7 pix and have a better idea - amazing how foreshortening changes the impression!

I was stood by the towpath barrier for the works.

It is situated 50ft past the steps down to the Nantwich road.

I was maybe 300 yds from the bridge. (A drive and a wedge for me...)

Mike

[ditchcrawler]

Photo on Facebook of it being filled up

[ditchcrawler]

13 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Photo on Facebook of it being filled up

https://www.facebook.com/groups/580228662068327/permalink/2092101684214343/

 

 

Edited December 15, 2018 by ditchcrawler

[The Ents]

I apologise for the quality of the image, it was lagging down.

Both dams now removed.

water maybe 5 ft down, counting bricks on the bank. More on Monday i expect

[furnessvale]

1 hour ago, The Ents said:

I apologise for the quality of the image, it was lagging down.

Both dams now removed.

water maybe 5 ft down, counting bricks on the bank. More on Monday i expect

Both dams now removed?  I can see large chunks of the far dam visible in that photo.

 

It looks like the usual removal job where enough is removed so boats up to 2ft draught can squeeze through the middle, but anything deeper has to struggle!

 

Still, nothing unusual in that state of affairs. ?

 

George

[Jennifer McM]

Brilliant news! Thanks for the photos.

 

C&RT did say it will be 'open' Christmas time! Well done!

[ditchcrawler]

We are poised waiting to go

[The Ents]

Water now only about 12” down, at 3pm today

Fingers crossed.

 

Mike.

[The Ents]

Glorious sight, the bywash at Wardle running well!

 

Looks good doesn’t it?

 

Not yet open to boaters, there are 3 CRT boats waiting to shift muck and barriers tomorrow.

 

Mike.

[ditchcrawler]

6 minutes ago, The Ents said:

Glorious sight, the bywash at Wardle running well!

 

Looks good doesn’t it?

 

Not yet open to boaters, there are 3 CRT boats waiting to shift muck and barriers tomorrow.

 

Mike.

Is there a time for the opening do you know, or will they just unlock when they have done. We should be in Middlewich tomorrow night

[The Ents]

Sorry, don’t know. Original dates were 21/22 Dec,

 

[Alway Swilby]

Have they put in some new mooring rings at the site like they did at Dutton? Or maybe that will come later (or not at all).

[Pie Eater]

48 minutes ago, Alway Swilby said:

Have they put in some new mooring rings at the site like they did at Dutton? Or maybe that will come later (or not at all).

Perhaps the Shropshire Union Canal Society will put some in like they have done elsewhere.