Working with volunteers on the Chesterfield Canal

Womersleys helped train Volunteers from the Canal and River Trust in the use of lime mortars for the up keep of locks on the Chesterfield Canal. The canal was originally built with mortar made from burnt Magnesium Limestone (perhaps with some clay marl added) and local sands. This tradition of using hydraulic lime mortars for the construction and repair of the canal structures was continued by the group.

 Magnesium limestone was originally burn close by the canal at South Anston and Thorpe Salvin and lime and brick production at this point allowed the canal to be constructed in both directions from this source of building materials. The lime was not favoured by the farmer being caustic for longer than the calcium limestone from the Matlock or Bakewell areas but it was used for the canal building and later house building.

The Chesterfield Canal, was built in the 1760s to carry lead ore and other minerals from the peak district to the Trent water system, and was a significant waterway when canals were the main bulk transportation systems. It was also used to carry coal and limestone from collieries around Stavely, Killamarsh, Kiveton, and quarries in places like Anston.

During the first 50 years of the nineteenth century the canal prospered, for before the advent of the railways it was the only practicable method of carrying heavy, bulky goods and was much more efficient than horse and cart since a barge held far more than a cart and only needed the same one horse to pull it.

The most prosperous time in the canal’s history was in the 15 years from 1840. In 1834 the old Houses of Parliament had burned down. Barry and Pugin were the architects who were awarded the contracts to design the replacement of the Palace of Westminster and they chose Anston stone. Thus Magnesian Limestone from the Duke of Leeds’ quarries sited only two miles from the canal was chosen to be the building stone. A major clause in the contract was that the supply of stone must be constant; this gave continuous work for the canal for the first four years and intermittently for a further ten years. The stone was transported to Dog Kennel wharf, where it was loaded on to “cuckoo” boats for transport to West Stockwith for transhipment on to Trent sloops, thence sailed to London.

However, from about 1850 two industrial developments led to the decline of the canal. The first was the building of the railways. The second death blow to the canal was the sinking of Kiveton deep mine collieries, just north of the Norwood tunnel in 1864. The mining of this coal caused widespread subsidence and severely damaged the tunnel from 1875 onwards.

Commercial traffic continued on the eastern section of the canal until 1956.The detail of the decline of the canal and its subsequent restoration in the late 20th Century can be studied through the Chesterfield Canal Trust.

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2018
Day 6: Promoting Tourism through Conserving Heritage Conference Final day in Ethiopia Conservation Management Plans and Goodbye Day 4 Lime Training in Ethiopia Day 5 Lime Training in Ethiopia Day 3 Training in Ethiopia Day 2 of Lime Training in Ethiopia Empress Mentewab's Kuskuam Complex Lime Training in the Royal Compound at Gonder Day 1 of Running Lime Training in Ethiopia Conservation at Guzara Palace Earth mortars and Northern Ethiopia Inspirational Wattle and Daub in Ethiopia Providing Lime Training Out of the Rain An introduction to Silicate Paints Natural Pozzolana described by Vitruvius in the Roman Era Faux Marbling and Traditional Paints Training test Spenfield House Decoration Inspires Training Day Training at the Jewellery Quarter Birmingham Lime render finish coats for innovative design Paint Stripping Samples for Wythenshaw Hall A refresher day on Hot Limes for Mono Masonry Cast Roman Cement from 1840 on a building in Liverpool The colour is great and lots of very positive comments Fiona's Sheep formed from Womersleys Stone Repair Traditional Stand Oil Paint on new garden gate Tithe Barn now finished after Womersleys supply foamed glass insulated floor Ryedale Plasterers honing their skills & techniques Stone and Brick Repairs We would love to see you at Harrogate free tickets are available here Womersleys Insulating Lime Render Plaster and Moisture Buffering New Wattle and Daub supplied by Womersleys Ordsall Chord is coming to a successful finish Oil Paints and Distempers used to create an Illusion The iron rich limestone and aggregates of south east Sicily Marbeleizing with Natural Oil Paints Lime Mortars have always had to with stand extreme weather and seas The Cathedral Church of Saint Nicolo presents a fine Baroque façade The beautiful Noto limestone cladding Noto's Baroque Buildings Beautifully weathered lime render Lime stucco repairs to capitals Brick and Stone Formwork Exposed behind Lime Stucco Render Historic Lime Kiln at Shap Lime Stucco Work by Giovanni Bagutti Plaster, Daub and Render Survey at Old Hall Farm Repairing clay daub and lime plaster on panels of riven lath and insulating externally with insulated lime renders Use of mobile elevated platforms in Theatres Creating Formwork and Constructing an Arch An introduction to Lead Work Training Day Working with volunteers on the Chesterfield Canal Helping the Canal and River Trust Volunteers Training Course Sicily Building Kiln Training Course Sicily: Chuch of San Nicola Womersleys training course Sicily It really is as beautiful as they say Traditional buidling techniques Garden Corner Tower circa 1650, Agra Living Heritage Real Market Places Fine polished lime plaster ensured opulent splendour Indian Mortar Mill India Gate Lotus Flower forming 17th Century Column Bases Seventeenth Century Chrysanthemum Detail The Lotus Flower and the Indian Flag 17th Century Lime Stucco on brick Seventeenth Century Indian Frescoed Lime Stucco RIBA accredited CPD paint seminars Ceiling Survey Reveals a Glimpse of Former Decorative Glory Clay Infill found in Exeter's Grand Royal Clarence Hotel Foamit Sub Base for Great Tythe Barn
2016
Get your free tickets for the National Home Building Show Understanding Marple Lime Kilns It would be good to see you Sensitive refurb planned for Forge Cottage Last of Five Days at Grand Designs promoting Womersleys Stabilising a boundary wall with Hydraulic Hot Lime Mortar Its nice to be appreciated Training with Help the Heroes Volunteers The historical development of a simple wall Trialling hot lime mortar Lime Mortar Training Yesterday at Womersley's Breathable and natural paints for Lighthouse Aglaia emulsions used at St Leonard's Latest build by Guy and Straw Works Ltd Advice on Breathable Insulation for a Windmill More Lime Wash for West Wycombe Park Our latest article in the Listed Heritage Magazine Toft Gate Lime Kiln in Nidderdale The whole is greater than the sum of its parts What a pleasure to be booked in to resurvey the Apollo Tim's Nidderdale Dream Womersleys helping with Conservation Skills Training Programme Lovely Chamfers Working with our German Paint Partners The Ceiling Centre Tells a Story Historic Mortar Analysis for North Bar, Beverley New Foamed Glass Sub Base for Beamish Park Gardens Refurbishment Plasterwork survey at Oakwell Hall Completed Please call in to see us if you are at the Great Yorkshire Show Renovation in the Prettiest Village in the County Offering Paint Advice at Holy Trinity Church, Hull Developing Thornton's Conservation Area Assessment to Guide Develeopment Talbot Yard Malton Wins Award Insulating an Old Building with the Internal Warmshell System The Hairy Builder (Biker) Promo Traditional and Natural Paints featured in LPOC magazine Results of Plaster Survey at Wythenshaw Hall following fire damage New pre mixed Ironstone mortars introduced Results of Plaster Analysis at Castle Dairy Kendal Womersleys continue to supply lime mortars to Pontefract Castle Plaster Survey at Wythenshaw Hall following fire damage Holy Trinity Church Sunderland Plaster Survey Investigations in to the condition of the plaster on the walls at the Exchequer Building, Palace Green Library, Durham Plaster Analysis at Castle Dairy Kendal Free Illustrated Case Studies detailing Insulated Floors for Old Buildings