ture. The uncompromisingly non-traditional appearance proved somewhat controversial when the proposals were shown to the local community, initiating a debate about how appropriate, or not, it is to try and recreate an old-style canal building where none existed previously, for a purpose that never existed when the canal was in operation, and to building regulations and environmental and access standards that were never even Wey & Arun Canal dreamed of two centuries ago. Another Wey & Arun lock restoration is now However, planning permission has been well underway. The contractors have been on granted, and I for one am certain that once site to excavate Southland Lock chamber, the natural roof has ‘taken’ and the timbers insert piling, and pour the concrete walls and suitably weathered, the new building will base. That leaves plenty of work for the Wey blend into the landscape in a way that a brick & Arun Canal Trust’s volunteers, building the shed could not. cills and facing the walls in brick, among Plenty goes on elsewhere – our visiting numerous other tasks. campers have started preparatory work for Southland is the first brick lock to be our next lock restoration project, and other restored on the navigable section, the others visitors have been involved in some of the being stone – Loxwood Lock, which used a much-needed maintenance that is always similar method of construction, was a new continuing; Northlands lift bridge in this structure, added in order to achieve the case. necessary headroom under the Loxwood Visiting groups will have a chance to High Street; while Rowly Lock (Lock 17, get involved in some exciting work at the which was rebuilt some 20 years ago) is on a Northern end, near the junction with the different length of canal on the other side of Wey, and for which a new Northern Working the summit. Group has been set up. The actual route the As with all the brick locks on the canal, canal will take here is still subject to a there were very few visible remains at number of options, and a study has been Southland. The plans were originally to commissioned to establish the best comprorebuild Southland in a slightly different loca- mise. tion, in order to address nature conservation Finally, Lordings Waterwheel was ready issues, but an agreement was negotiated in time for its inauguration on 11 September which made it possible to rebuild the lock on by local MP and government minister Nick its original site, so the sandstone base could Herbert. This unique structure, which lifts be re-used. water 3m from the river to feed the canal, A vast number of locally hand-made was ‘discovered’ 10 years or so by the late rustic bricks have been ordered, not only for Winston Harwood. Southland, but for Gennets Bottom, which is Winston managed to establish how the the next lock up, and for the new parapets wheel must have operated, and set to defor the Loxwood High Street bridge. The signing and building a replica to prove his bridge has been the subject of local theory. It worked, though not particularly fundraising efforts to supplement WACT’s efficiently or reliably, and after the main own input; sufficient has now been raised to spindle of Winston’s wheel broke last year, a start work on one side. Work has already ‘professionally improved’ version began to started on the thankless task of cutting the take shape, with the help of a volunteer bricks to achieve the desired Flemish Garden chartered engineer. Wall bond pattern. The present wheel uses a lot of WinAlso in Loxwood, work has begun on ston’s original parts, plus many professionthe new information centre which will replace ally-made upgraded components, and perthe ‘black shed’ behind the Onslow Arms. A forms rather better – certainly better than the substantial donation has allowed the prefab- 19th-century original would have done. The ricated building to be ordered from reopening is being marked by a small boat Fordingbridge Engineering of Fontwell. This rally. is an energy-efficient, low-carbon eco-strucBill Thomson
Progress
Wey & Arun Canal
page 32