WEEK 10 - Day 38 Removing Floorboards and Steel Delivery

The whole of the warehouse floor of Stove House 5 was removed today, allowing us to prepare to take away the floor joists and the the side walls.

The dismantling of the walls will begin with the east gable so that the scaffold team from H&E Scaffolding, Telford can insert lifting girders beneath the salt pan.

The floorboards rest on a timber beam laid over the joists, which are in fact second hand railway lines.

The floor boards have been affected by the process of drying the salt. The upper surface is very smooth, but the lower surface has had fibres drawn from the cell walls of the wood by the damp heat trapped between the floors as the salt dried over the flues.

The steel beams weigh almost 4 tons and were delivered from the Corus steel works at Scunthorpe.

They have been laid out alongside the salt pan ready to be inserted underneath for lifting the pan.
Following the lift next week the iron pan will be cleaned and prepared for a protective coat of paint.

Asbestos roof sheets were removed from above Warehouse and Stove areas 1 and 3. Stove 1 is the oldest part of the Lion Salt Works and has some difficult structural areas because it has been adapted and altered gretaly over its life. A scaffold walkway is being inserted and additional props to support the floor and roof areas.

Video for work completed on Day 21 to dismantle roof trusses has now been posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nizNmZ6RWA

WEEK 10 - Day 37 Dismantling Floorboards of Stove House 5

Work started today to dismantle the floorboards of Stove House 5. The boards are being lifted for replacement whn the building is rebuilt on new foundations in Phase 2. Following the removal of the boards the floor joists will be taken out and the outer walls will then be taken down brick by brick. There are over 400 boards to lift before lunchtime tomorrow.

Also posted today a movie prepared by APR Services to show the coverage obtained during their laserscan survey of the Stove House areas of SH 2,3, 4 and 5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmRBwrhPs30m/watch?v=bmRBwrhPs30

The NW Industrial Archaeology Panel held their meeting at the Lion Salt Works today. Left to right: Ian Miller, Oxford Archaeology North; Julian Baum, Take 27; Mike Nevell, Salford University; PaulineWeb, Museum of Science & Industry Manchester; David George

WEEK 10 - Day 36 Walls of SH5 Removed to Warehouse Floor Level

With the roof trusses removed work on Stove House 5 continues to dismantle and remove the brick works. First this is being taken down to the warehouse floor level so that the floor boards can be removed.

A timelapse sequence was posted today of the removal of the asbestos roof sheets and timber boarding of Stove House 5.

Visit it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIMyJrvP4EM . A sequence showing the dismantling of the roof trusses will follow.

WEEK 9 - Day 32 Continuing Works and Visit

A1 Environment continued removing asbestos roof sheets from the former Salt Pan 2.
H&E Scaffolding continued erecting a scaffolding walkway through and around Salt Pans 3 and 4. William Anelay Ltd continued to dismantle the roof trusses of Stove House 5, and with the weight removed from the east gable the upstanding brickwork above the warehouse floor was also dismantled.
A video recording the dismantling of the east gable has been posted on Youtube and a link placed in last weeks diary account. Editing of the video taken as roof truss No.6 was dismantled is also now uploaded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nizNmZ6RWA.
Carolyn Shepherd took away some more timbers which are not required in the rebuilding phase and these will be used in an art installation as part of her 3rd Year art degree exhibition.
Middlewich Town Clerk, Jonathan Williams and Kerry Fletcher, Heritage Development Officer visited to see the progress of the Enabling Works. The brine pump of Murgatroyds Salt Works still survives in Middlewich and was operated by Tom Lightfoot whose manuscript and pencil drawings were edited and published by Annelise Fielding as 'Open Pan Salt Making in Cheshire' (see publications link opposite).




Dismantling roof trusses (left view from north) (right view from south)


Details of ridge boards showing diferences in construction between the ridge above the main trusses (left) and the ridge over the roof ventitator.

WEEK 8 - Day 30 Dismantling of Eastern Gable of Stove House 5

With the complete removal of the roofing structures we started to dismantle and remove the roof trusses today, starting at the eastern gable. This was removed by lunch time and work moved on to the next roof truss. Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8jx_JVf4VQ.

The asbestos team started to remove sheeting from the collapsed areas around Salt Pan 2 and the former Packing Area around the central chimney.
The scaffold team started to install an access platform around Salt Pan 3.

In the evening there was a short presentation to our immediate neighbours in Marston village. Site Manager, David Marsh of William Anelay Ltd (centre with hard hat) gave an outline of the work being carried out by his team and was enthusiastic about the challenge they faced to carry out work programme to his companies high standards. It was opportunity for local people who have endured living next to a derelict site for many years to see how the HLF grant would transform their local environment. They could also see what all the banging and hammering was achieving and for us to get feedback about any of their concerns and try to address any problems.
Steve Woolfall (right) Heritage, Museums and Tourism Manager, Cheshire West and Chester Council explained the challenges being tackled by the council to move the project forward to Phase 2. The presentation was made in our temporary timber store. The Pump House and chimney can be seen through the open doorway.

WEEK 8 - Day 29 Roof Boarding Removed

Having removed the asbestos sheeting we were able to completely removed the roof boarding today. Some 600 boards were removed. Look back to yesterday to see the uploaded video of the asbestos removal completed yesterday. Video of boarding removal can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mDh_R_gAPk. A time lapse sequence was shot of the work to remove the asbestos sheeting and the boarding. This is now uploaded at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIMyJrvP4EM
Perparations were made to begin dismantling the roof trusses tomorrow.

There was also a project team meeting today with team members from project managers Turner and Townsend; contractors, William Anelays Ltd; architects, Donald Insall Associates; structural engineers, The Moreton Partnership and owners Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Left to Right: Emma Burkit, T&T; David Marsh, Anelay; Gemma Haigh,T&T; Rik Fox, Moreton Partnership; Steve Woolfall,CW&C; Charles Anelay, Anelay; Simon Mallom,Insalls.

WEEK 8 - Day 28 Stove House 5 Roof Dismantling Completed

The last sheets of asbestos cladding were removed from the south side of the roof today. A video record of the work can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziddLksSh2U



Whilst the south side asbestos was being completed, work could start on removing the tarred paper and then the roofing boards. These are in excellent condition and are being stored for replacement within the re-built stove House in Phase 2 of the works next year.

The fixing bolts for the asbestos sheets were cut by an electric saw and each of these has to be removed. Smaller nails held the boards in place and these were prised clean of the timber and the boards removed.

Work could be carried out from the internal scaffold platforms, or from standing on the outer face of the boards themselves. A boardwalk around the perimeter of the building and a safety rail provided access from the outside and the necessary safety for those removing the boards.

The external cladding from the end gables is much thinner timber and will be replaced with new wood during the rebuilding. In the east gable a glazed window will look out along the canal side from the salt works. Samples of the cladding timbers will be retained as sample materials.

Some of the boards however will have a different future life a part of an art installation being prepared by student Carolyn Shepherd. She came today to select some pieces which were most suited to her proposed concept. Visit her web site to see her work http://www.carolynshepherd.co.uk/

WEEK 7 - Day 27 Loading Bay Floorboarding and Stove House 5 Roof

Today we completed the removal of floor boarding from the Loading Bay platform.
Many boards are in fair condition, but where rain and weather has been able to get at the timber ends you can see the outer ends have decayed.
To see a video of how this was carried out follow the link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BJ6u3j67jg.


In the fantastic early September weather our A1 suffered in their protective suits to cut the sheeting clips, and remove the boarding. The underlying boards are in excellent condition having also been protected by a roofing felt. His is the view from outside our exhibition building. Come along and see the work as it progresses, Monday to Thursday until November.

WEEK 7 - Day 24 Asbestos Removal Begins

A1 Environmental Ltd started removal of the roofing cement asbestos sheeting this morning. The first target was the Loading Bay.
Using a cherry picker the operatives spray the sheets to prevent dust and cut the securing fastenings in order to remove the sheets in one piece, avoiding breakages.
Tomorrow work moves to the main roof of Stove House 5.
http://www.a1environmental.co.uk/

Manouvering the cherry picker beneath the Loading Bay roof.

Wearing protective suits, gloves and masks the sheets are sprayed before cutting through the fastenings.

WEEK 6 - Day 21 Timber Store Completed

We left the site on Thursday of last week with the temporary timber store starting to be erected. On the Friday and Saturday the construction team completed the main erection, leaving only the roller shutter doors and internal lighting to be installed today. Work can start today dismantling Stove House 5.

The scaffolding has been completed around the outside of the building giving access to the external boards at each of the gable ends.
After horrible weather over the week end we have a calm and sunny start to the day, but the forcast for the week is for showers and rain.
The ground surface between the store and Stove House 5 will be cleaned and covered in a membrane and stone giving a firm and clean surface to work from.
The scaffolding is being inserted within Stove House 5 to provide a safe working platform from which to begin dismantling the roof trusses. The work wiill commence on Monday 7 September with the removal of the asbestos sheeting that covers the roof.

This work will be captured on our time lapse camera and posted here and on Youtube.

The removal of the external cladding boards from eth east and west gables was completed today, and scaffoldong was started inside the Stove House rising through the warehouse floor. This will support working platforms below the roof structures and around the trusses from which we will dismantle the timber frame. Watch the work at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSvI97QibJo

WEEK 5 - Day 19 Ground Works, Scaffolding, Local News

To view how the site looked this morning link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4kHwgCSaVY
The preparations for erecting our temporary building store can be seen and there is a tour around and inside of Stove House 5. It is amazing that Henry Thompson only had this constructed in 1965, but it is to a much earlier design. Most of our work is targeted at recording and dismantling Stove House 5, so that it can be re-built on a new foundation. All materials will be stored and repaired for re-building in 2010. The revitalised building will house the Lion Salt Works Museum shop, cafe and interpretation centre. Much of the rest of this blog will detail how the dismantling will be carried out.

Site Manager, David Marsh gave a short tour to the editor of the Marston parish newsletter, Sarah Hubbard. Sarah has been passing on information about the start of our works to local residents through her monthly newsletter. To help her to understand the work she was given a close up view of the progress we have made. William Anelay Ltd are signed up to the Considerate Constructors Scheme - http://www.ccscheme.org.uk/ , so keeping our neighbours well informed is important to them, and helps to get feedback from locals who might have issues with aspects of the work. Our door is always open if anyone has any problems, or indeed if they want to tell us that we are exceeding their expectations.

WEEK 5 - Day 17 Timelapse record of works to Stove House 5

Julian Baum and Claire Duval of Take 27 have been helping set up a time lapse camera which will record work being carried out to Stove House 5. Over the coming weeks the whole of this building will be dismantled and stored ready for re-erection as part of the Phase 2 works.
The camera looks out of the upstairs window of the former Red Lion Inn, now the offices and exhibition area of the Lion Salt Works Project.

A sequence of the scaffolding being erected is now available, the work completed at the end of last week. Link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6PNR74aoMQ

For information about the work of Take 27 go to http://www.take27.co.uk/

Work being completed today, includes additional scaffolding to the north of Stove House 5, ground works to the general site surface and temporary car parking for visitors, asbestos removal and dismantling of the link bridge between Stove House 5 and the main salt works complex.

























The nails have corroded, all the salt eating into the iron work, making the structure very unstable. The scaffold provides a safe working platform to photograph, label and remove the structure.

Much of our loading bay is made up of re-used timbers. One second hand telegraph post has this inscription GPO 1908 R

WEEK 4 - Day 14 Laserscan Survey

A team from APR Services started a two day programme of laser scanning today. Tony Rogers carried out the first laser scan of the salt works, which was used to produce the cad drawings for our Conservation Plan.

Luke Cable and Tom Avery with Tony Rogers (right) in front of the salt pan to Pan House 5. Warehouse 5 behind.

Video link to see laser scan survey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fygt3cswvOI

Link to report of the initial survey -http://www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk/heritage3d/casestudies.htm.

APR Services http://www.aprservices.net/index.htmlex.html

Also today we removed an oil storage tank weighing 3 tons, which stored oil for burning under Pan No.5

The tank was empty of oil but had to be disposed of as a contaminated container.

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.