Back After a Frustrating Break!

In our Day 14 update, we explained how it was important to identify the edge of a pit cut below the pumphouse so we know where to use a mechanical digger to quickly gain some depth. As you will no doubt have noticed, we have had some rather wet weather in the first half of June which quickly made the ground too slippery to do this safely. We were planning to do this on the 7th but had to postpone the work at the last moment following a site inspection. Fortunately, at this time of year, a few dry days do wonders with regard to drying out sodden ground. Although we have not been able to get a machine onto site at short notice, we have decided to make a start at the “big dig” by hand!

Armed with shovels and four smart barrows, we made good progress, even though, no doubt, a machine could have removed all the material we dug out over the course of the day in a matter of minutes. It was definitely good exercise, and I think the social interactions within a good team focused on a single task are an important factor at play when getting a big job done.

By the time the team dispersed at the end of a glorious sunny day, we had found the solid stone edge to the wellpit along most of the north-eastern side of the site and cut a trench up to a metre in width from this line back towards the centre of the building. Finding the solid edge has two benefits: it provides a visible line defining the limit of work for the digger, and it also means that should the excavation go deeper in this area we will not have to be overly concerned about unstable sides to the trench.

One interesting observation made on this day is that there are a few roof tiles lying directly on top of the stone ledge which probably shows us that all the overburden now present here was placed there after demolition rather than as a feature of the pumphouse, probably thrown in when the pit was filled. A trial slot may be required to show how much of this ledge was originally exposed when the well was in use. It is unlikely to extend all the way to the edge of the building as this would have seriously jeopardised the integrity of the building foundations.