This Saturday, we took a big step forward at Hotchley Hill, starting work on the floor upstairs, replacing timbers that have been badly rotten and burnt over the last three decades.
Armed with all the tools we could muster, and a good kit of parts, we started by marking-up and fitting joist hangers to the new timbers for the centre section of the floor. A job much easier done while there was still an old floor to work on!
Next, we set about breaking-up the corresponding part of the original floor, around the lever frame. This naturally required a great deal of care to ensure it came apart in a safe and controlled order. Reassuringly, the floor proved to have a wide safety margin. Pitiful planks we previously propped as a precaution proved prodigiously persistent, but a slew of sawing saw them surrender.
As the sun was setting, we just had time to drop the new wood into place, and see how it looked. It still needs to be levelled and secured, but we're more than happy with the day's work.
This is all made possible by the members and supporters of the LNER(GC) Heritage Trust, but the job isn't finished! If you'd like to see more progress on this project and others, please consider donating - or volunteering with us. Just get in touch.
