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Other Brunel's Swing Bridge Pages

As well as an introductory page, the other Brunel's Swing Bridge pages cover: events at the bridge, including the dates of work parties; reports of work parties in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022; photos of work parties in 2020, 2021 and 2022; information on the 170th Anniversary events; and copies of the display boards.

Brunel's Swing Bridge Project News - 2020

March 2020

The work party on 21 March was the first of the year, and subsequent work parties were cancelled because of the government's Covid-19 restrictions.

Photo right: The top of the bearing has been removed to check on water penetration through the grease. (Photo by G Wallis)

The recent high tides had reached the exceptional height of 15 m, fortunately leaving only a small amount of silt in the bottom of the bridge and in the ram pits. One of the first items to be checked was water penetration into the bearings. Luckily the copious quantities of grease applied last year had protected all but a small area. The damaged corner of one of the ram flanges was glued back in place, ready for it to be bolted together at a later date.

August 2020

The first workday after the easing of the Corona virus restrictions was a special day for several reasons. Nature had not been idle during lockdown so Ian, John, Dominic and Geoff spent a long time weeding the whole site. The vandals had also been busy so we painted out the grossest of the graffiti and collected a large rubbish bag of bottles, sweet-bags and empty capsules of nitrous oxide laughing gas. We were then ready for Doors Open Day in September, although we are not yet sure whether it will go ahead.

Dominic did wonders for the site by erecting lots of bunting which fluttered satisfyingly in light breezes. By 2.00pm the sun had come out and our party-goers arrived. We opened bottles of bubbly and celebrated the work of project founders Mike and Maggie. Young Bailey presented Maggie with a cake beautifully printed with a picture of Maggie and her Lanchester car, both in their finery.  There were a couple of (mercifully short) speeches of thanks, and a very pleasant time of cake and socially-distanced conversation was enjoyed by all.

Photo right: Maggie cutting the cake. (Photo by G Wallis)

More photos of the work party can be found on the 2020 photo page.

September 2020

Our last workday of the year was sunny and productive. Charlie tightened the cables securing the roof and then cleverly renewed a decayed batten in one of our expensive Youngman's walkway boards, whilst Ian secured the boards covering the voids in the central box structure and fitted a new one. Julian spent a productive day removing the vegetation taking hold in the masonry walls of the old lock and generally around the site. Charlie joined him to carry out some heroic clearance at lower level, all the time secured by a safety harness. John Willis and Geoff Wallis wire brushed graffitied areas and applied grey paint, so the east end of the Bridge now looks good and we hope the vandals don't see it as a blank canvas.  Geoff secured new website signs to the Bridge, painted out the graffiti on the aluminium store adjacent to the hut, fielded visitors and generally assisted with other tasks, all videoed by Peter.

Although the day was designated Doors Open Day the Covid-safe self-guided tours didn't reach BOB.  However, there was a high level of interest from a good number of passing visitors.

Photos of the work party can be found on the 2020 photo page.

Other Brunel's Swing Bridge Pages

As well as an introductory page, the other Brunel's Swing Bridge pages cover: events at the bridge, including the dates of work parties; reports of work parties in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022; photos of work parties in 2020, 2021 and 2022; information on the 170th Anniversary events; and copies of the display boards.

< Back to Project List