14th March 2021
The Spill Weir at Hartington takes excess water out of the canal and back to the River Rother via settling ponds. Under normal circumstances, this is via a 650mm pipe, but in exceptional conditions it overtops and runs down a channel.
This was a huge undertaking, the vast majority of which was done by our volunteer Work Party.
This is the site of the Spill Weir in 2013. Dr Geraint Coles, the previous Development Manager, is describing the plans to a group of our members.
Work did not start until 2015. This is the 650mm pipe that leads back to the River Rother.
Contractors laid the foundations.
The brown pipe was a temporary measure to drain the pound whilst construction was going on.
This is ready for the concrete foundation …..
….. that was laid a few days later.
It was now over to our Work Party. Dave and Ralph set out the first layer of blocks …..
….. and mortared them into place.
Gradually the block walls were built.
The core was filled with aggregate and compacted.
Five huge culverts, each weighing several tons, were put in place. Click here to see a video of one being fitted.
Meanwhile, work on the back wall continued. The gap between the second and third culvert is for the penstock valve, see below.
Sometimes there was a big gang of volunteers.
The gap at the front was filled with concrete.
The blocks were faced with bricks – over 4,000 altogether.
The front was also brick faced.
This is the penstock valve. It is used if the pound needs to be drained.
The towpath crosses the Spill Weir and here the surface was being laid.
It then had to be tamped, but not too flat – there has to be some grip.
The next job was to fill in either end.
Coping stones were added. Note the grooves. These are to take stop planks so that the level of water can be adjusted.
Railings had to be fitted for safety, this was done by the contractors who made them. You can see the stop planks just inside the grilles.
This is the back view.
After a final surface had been laid, it was opened to the public.
This was the view from the other end.
An apron was added at the back or else erosion would just wash everything away.
Finally wing walls are being added. This has been stopped by the current lockdown.
This is the whole thing in operation following a torrential downpour. Photo by Dave France