WEEK 2 - Day 8 Review of Days 1-8

The vegetation has been cut back and cleared to allow access to all parts of the compound area. Stored objectes have been 're-found' and we can now see the brine pump etc.
The area around Stove House 5 is being cleared to allow it to be scaffolded prior to dismantling.
More on this next week.
A video diary of some of the preparation works is linked below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMUV8qz5uyQ

The view from the first floor woindow of teh former Red Lion Inn, looking north east. We hope to film a time lapse sequence of the work being carried out to dismantle and rebuild Stove House 5 from this view point.

WEEK 2 - Day 7 Meet the Enabling Team

Our Enabling Team are from the renovation and restoration company William Anelay's, specialists in the repair and restoration of historic structures.

Front row from left to right : Ken Jones, Chris Watson, Adam McKechnie, Simon Allen

Back row from left to right : Chris Winnington, John Watts and David Marsh.

Dave Marsh is the Anelay's Small Works and Contracts Manager and Site Manager for the Lion Salt works project. Chris Watson and Simon Allen both work with Anelay's, whilst Ken, Adam, the other Chris and John have been recruited locally from the Northwich area.

For a web link to William Anelay's go to the Contractors panel on the left and click to visit their web site and see the projects the company has worked on in the past.

WEEK 2 - Day 6 Visit from Inspector of Monuments

As the site build up continues we were visited today by Jennie Stopford, Ancient Monuments Inspector for English Heritage North West. She came to view the site prior to work commencing on dismantling Stove House 5 and view site preparations. She was shown around the site by Andrew Fielding, Archaeological Project Officer at the Lion Salt Works for Cheshire West and Chester Council. As the site is a scheduled monument a detailed description of the work that is to be carried out on site has been given consent by the Department of Media Culture and Sport. Jennie Stopford will monitor that the work is carried out in accordance with the approved design brief.

The most obvious piece of work will be the dismantling of Stove House 5. The building will be carefully dismantled, labelled and stored ready for rebuilding on its original footprint.

New foundations are required for the re-erection to enable it to be fitted out as a cafe, shop and exhibition room. But, because it is sitting on the remains of an earlier salt works, an archaeological excavation is required to record what structures lie below the building.

More details in later reports.

WEEK 2 - Day 5 Setting up the Site

We are continuing to set up the site during this second week of enabling works. The day number relates to the working days the contractors are on site. To reduce travelling overheads they are working longer days whilst the light is good, up to twelve hour days for four days each week, so this is Day 5 in Week 2 of a twelve week programme. The contract team will feature in the next post.

Old fence posts are being removed and debris removed from site. A waste disposal policy separates all waste by material for individual disposal.
Bracken and brambles are being removed to enable a clear view of all the structures. We will see the remains of a former fishery salt pan when this area around the 'nodding donkey' pump is cleared.

The pump is powered by a horizontal engine housed in the Engine House. The brick structure on the right held a water tank to supply feed water for the boiler. These structures will be described in greater detail when they are clearly visible.

Areas previously excavated are being uncovered. These cobbles and pan plates were last seen as part of a schools excavation carried out in 1994.

Features such as this are to be protected from the construction vehicles, cranes etc whilst the main works are carried out. The protection works will be described in the next few posts.