SUSSEX OUSE RESTORATION TRUST - PUBLIC MEETINGS

Social Meeting - Thursday 17th January 2008

The Grange, Lewes

The Spring 2008 Meeting of SORT will take place in the Newton Room of Southover Grange in Lewes on the evening of January 17th, 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Members of IWA Kent & East Sussex branch (IWAKES) will join SORT and members of the general public to hear from the working SORT members all there is to know about the restoration works so far at Isfield Lock.  As well as historic maps of the area and photographs of the work as it has progressed, we will also see some of the finds from the site and hear about the paper mill that used to stand right by the lock, of which no remains whatsoever now exist.

The entrance to Southover Grange is in Southover High Street, Lewes, BN7 1TP.  There is a Streetmap link here.  There is parking in surrounding streets or in the school car park immediately opposite the venue. Lewes station is only a short walk away to the east.

Do come along and take part in what promises to be a very interesting and entertaining evening.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Thursdays and Week-ends from May to mid-September

Restoration work parties at Isfield Lock

By kind permission of landowner John Sclater, conservation / restoration work will restart at Isfield Lock on various week-ends from late April until mid-September 2008, plus a few Thursdays. Following completion of the removal of the bottom gate remains and all the silt from the lock in 2007, work this year will concentrate on the conservation and renovation of the east wall of the lock. The early stages this year will include making good the scoured invert area below the bottom gate recesses and the erection of scaffolding to allow for safe working on the east wall.

Work days planned so far are:

• Via Vuggles Farm entrance:
  Thu. 17th April - initial visit to pump out lock and prepare site
  Sat. 19 / Sun. 20 April - erect scaffolding to East wall

• Via Plantation entrance:
  Thu 1st May - prepare invert scour holes for concreting
  Sat. 3 / Sun. May - concreting invert scour holes
  Thu. 8 May - check invert repair, remove temporary dam, move hoist and re-route electrical supply cable to East side
  Sat. 10 / Sun. 11 May - start work on East wall cutting out dead bricks, drilling and stitching
  Thu 15 May - continue above tasks
  Thu. 5th June - all materials to site for KESCRG week-end
  Sat. 7 / Sun. 8 June - KESCRG visit working week-end

Further detailed lists of dates will be published here once they are set. We will be delighted to see any new working members there on these dates, but please contact our project manager, Paul Morris, via e-mail at morris_paul @ btinternet.com, or by telephone 01435 863683, before you come along so that we can give you precise details of times and location.