An old technique

Published: Monday, 09 July 2018

Regarding your comment about the work on the Bosley Locks, writes Mike Todd.

I have no information about how the team intend to tackle this particular stoppage but I have witnessed very short term (eg two hours) stoppages for quick maintenance. Planks are inserted just at the lock entrance and the water (if at the top gate) drained away.

'Ashing'

The most amazing part of the operation was the 'ashing'—a technique to minimise the water seeping between the stop planks.Ash is sprinkled just above the waterline and any flow draws it down to the gap and then plugs it.

The water stopped almost completely and very quickly. I was told that the preferred ash came from a local steam railway! (I think because of the type of coal that they burn.)