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In 2011 the SCCS was approached
by Paulton Parish Council and asked to suggest a way forward
to improve the area which formed the Western terminus of the
S.C.C. and included Timsbury Basin, Paulton Basin and
Paulton Dry Dock. It soon became apparent that the
landowners in this area were in favour of restoring the
canal, although this had seemed an impossible dream. In
Spring of 2012, the SCCS began restoration work with
considerable assistance from the landowners.
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January 2012
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Paulton Dry Dock
Drainage work began
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March 2012
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Work party rained off
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April 2012
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Paulton Dry Dock
A wall was discovered during drainage work
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October 2012
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Paulton Dry Dock
Water level lowered enough to allow SCCS and WRG to
undertake major clearance work
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November 2012
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Work party snowed off
Site then flooded
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April 2013
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Paulton Dry Dock
A collapsed culvert was discovered in the SE corner of
the Dry Dock. It was cleared out and rebuilt by members of
the SCCS, WRG and local landowners.
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April 2013
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Paulton Dry Dock
Archæological dig followed by...
Excavation with a mini-digger to reveal the full extent
of the basin, 30ft x 83ft, making this almost certainly the
largest canal dry dock in Britain.
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October 2013
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Paulton Dry Dock
Culvert completed
Stop plank point repairs begun.
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December 2013
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Paulton Dry Dock
Stop plank point completed
Landowners begin repairing the stone arch over the Dry
Dock entrance
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April 2014
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Paulton Dry Dock
A large excavator begins clearing earth from the Dry
Dock
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Photograph: David Fearns
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April 2014
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Paulton Dry Dock
The full size of the dock is revealed
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Photograph: David Fearns
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August 2014
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Paulton Dry Dock
The Dry Dock arch abutments have been rebuilt ready to
receive the arch
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August 2014
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Paulton Dry Dock
The wooden centring is being prepared ready to support
the Dry Dock arch stones during construction
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September 2014
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Terminus Bridge
Digging out the infill
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September 2014
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Terminus Bridge
Uncovering the stop plank point
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September 2014
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Withy Mills Batch
The location of the Withy Mills stop plank point
discovered
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October 2014
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Dry Dock Arch
Reconstruction begun
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Map of the S.C.C. between Paulton and
Radford
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October 2014
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Withy Mills Narrows
to
Dunford West Narrows
Canal dug out
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October 2014
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Dunford West Narrows
dug out and stop plank groove revealed
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October 2014
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Withy Mills Narrows
WRG begin rebuilding the stonework
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November 2014
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Radford Mill Farm
Digging out in progress
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November 2014
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Terminus Bridge
Canal cleared from drainage culvert to bridge
narrows
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December 2014
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West of Withy Mills
Work begins to build up towpath and waterproof 'puddling
clay' to correct level.
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December 2014
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Radford Mill Farm
Radford Colliery Wharf and the footings of Dunford Bridge
uncovered
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December 2014
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West of Withy Mills
After days of rain the canal is beginning to fill from
springs in the field above
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December 2014
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West of Withy Mills
Work is temporarily suspended as conditions become too
boggy for the digger to work safely
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