Oxenhall House Lock
In 2000, a small team of Trust volunteers commenced work on restoring the lock chamber itself. Much of the original wall masonry had fallen into the chamber, and had to be replaced. With its listed building status, work had to be undertaken using “heritage” materials and techniques, and the towpath wall of the lock was completed in July 2002, and the offside wall in December 2003. Other work including replacement of the top gate cill timber, and reconstruction of wing walls at the tail of the lock were also undertaken.

 

Completion Ceremony
On 22 June 2004, a ceremony was held to mark the completion of the main restoration work, and the support for the project offered by Forest of Dean Council, and in 2008, one of three replacement milestones was unveiled just below the lock (others at Yarkhill and Over).

 

Although fitting of new gates is not currently planned, stop planks have been inserted to maintain water in the pound above the lock at normal canal level. Since then, the timber bridge over the tail of the lock has been rebuilt, and further work undertaken to raise the walls along the edge of the canal below the lock. Regular maintenance including tree cutting, grass trimming etc is kept up by the Trust volunteers.

 

During 2009 this section has seen volunteers employed on various maintenance tasks. Gabions have been placed along 7 metres of bank where it has been falling into the water. New stop planks are being prepared to replace some of the originals which are now rotting and while the water level is down it has been decided to relay all the bricks in the spill weir which have been broken and become very uneven.

 

Idyllic scenes at Oxenhall.