Pewsham Dry Dock (click on photographs to enlarge)

Sadly there is limited written information about some of the activities that took place along the canal so it came as something of a surprise for the early restoration volunteers to unearth what appeared to be the remains of a dry dock at Pewsham. It is situated next to Bottom Lock within the pound that stores water between Middle and Bottom Locks.

Dry Dock 1 2002 Dec 

Initial excavations in 2003 uncovered parts of the dock walls, the brick floor (with pitch on the floor in places showing where it had dropped off boats bottoms during works and repairs), the water outlet (used to drain the dock) and also some slate tiles indicating that the dock had a tiled roof.

 

 

Dry Dock 2 2003 Feb

Dry Dock 3 2002 Dec Water Outlet note roof slates 1

 

 

 

         

 

 

                                                                                                    

 

In 2005 restoration work was started with parts of the dock walls rebuilt.

 Dry Dock 4 2005 Nov 1

In addition the water drainage channel was unearthed and repaired


Dry Dock 5 2005 Nov 2

 

                          Dry Dock 6 2005 Nov 3                                                

 

  

Dry Dock 7 2005 Nov 4

Dry Dock 8 2005 Nov 1a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                       

Due to concentrating efforts on other parts of the canal little work was carried out to the Dry Dock for the next few years. However in 2013 the drainage channel was again unearthed and repaired with the stone slabs that covered the channel re-seated where required.

 

 

 Dry Dock 10 FromBreach towardsExitPortal2Dry Dock 9 FromBreach TwdsDDockEntrance OK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry Dock 11 Entrance Down

Dry Dock 12 Dock DrainageChannel ExitPortal3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Finally the channel was covered in plastic sheeting for protection.

Dry Dock 13 Dock DrainageChannel ReslabbedCovered

 

Again a number of years drifted by as work on the dry Dock was limited due to more important work elsewhere on the canal. However in 2018 the Dry Dock restoration was finally incorporated into part of the plan for the Pewsham Locks area. The Dock would be rebuilt and would consist of a low brick wall (approximately 7 courses of bricks) with brick pillars that would support a tiled roof supported on wooden posts. The work would be completed as and when time and money were available.

In 2019 work began on taking down the walls to sound footings ready for construction.

 

Dry Dock 14 2019 1

Dry Dock 15 2019 2 Dry Dock Pewsham 4 Jan 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry Dock 16 2019 3 Dry Dock Pewsham 5 Jan 19

Dry Dock 17 2019 4 Dry Dock Pewsham 6 Apr 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                  

                      

 Dry Dock 22 Oct 1

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Dry Dock 23 Oct 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Mar 01

 

 

 Apr 01b

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  By Spring 2022 the wall had been re-built. The next part of the project was to fit vertical metal posts that will support the oak posts that will support the roof. .

 

Dry Dock 25 Sep 2021

Dry Dock 26 Dec 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry Dock 27 2018

Dry Dock 28 Apr 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entrance to the Dry Dock from the Pound was also uncovered showing that it had been built with stone (much as the waiting wall) with presumably clay behind to ensure a water tight seal.

  

 Dry Dock 19 2019 5 Dry Dock Pewsham 7 Sep 19Dry Dock 18 2019 6 Dry Dock Pewsham 8 Sep 19

 

  

 

 

       

 

 

                                                                                 
During the excavation some artefacts of pottery, glass and metal work were discovered.

 

Dry Dock 20 2019 8

dry Dock 21 2019 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               

 

                  

 

A schematic view of the Dry Dock is shown below

Dry Dock 24 DryDock

 

DD30DD31DD32DD33 First casting

 DD34 First Coping after former removedDD35 Grass cut in Dock

 

 DD36 East Wall looking NorthDD37 Pillar castingDD38 Dry Dock looking South

 

 Restoration Work continues ......

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