Site Event/Activity record ECH5495 - Assessment of the Repairs Required at Bunbury Locks

The timber cill bumper plates at the bottom of the lock were showing signs of significant decay and needed replacement. Furthermore the steel straps which held the timbers in place against the masonry had worked loose as the timber deteriorated. It was proposed to replace the timbers with new oak timbers and reattach the straps. The cill bumper plate appeared to have been installed to protect boats from impact against the lock cill and at the same time protect the masonry from damage. Interestingly, the holding straps at the sides are railway track and may have been installed during the railway era when the canal was operated by the Shropshire Union Canal and Railways Company and later the London and Great Western Railway. It was hoped that these could be retained as they looked to be in good condition (1).