Broadway canopy extension lamps

Monday at Broadway

Monday was a very wet and windy day, the aftermath of the storm at the weekend, with the skies still very troubled.

Neal carried on regardless, despite the rain hammering down on the roof of the steps.

John and yours truly painted once again, we must be coming to the end for all these bits now, surely?










In this picture, taken in the afternoon when things had improved a bit weather-wise, we could see that the top rail and the uprights were in place, but they may well come down again for final fettling! Watch this space then.

Off site the production of the 'WAY OUT' signs continued, with the first (double sided) one just about ready now. Just the screw holes still need filling in, and repainting. Had to think twice about the orientation, to make sure the little hand pointed in the same direction on both front and back....

The bigger one, with the text about crossing via the bridge, is waiting for some extra letters to come. It shouldn't be long.

Things are finally moving with the production of the two large hexagonal lamps that hang under the two canopy extensions.






















In this blow up from one of the 1904 opening pictures you can see one of the two lamps in the distance, just to the right of the WAY OUT sign.

These reproduction lamps are specially made for us, and are funded by a valliant supporter of Broadway heritage, who also funded the three suspended gas lamps under the platform canopy.





Of course we had no drawing of these lamps, and this picture is the only one that shows one of them. A pretty fuzzy picture it is too, but it allowed our specialist advisor to make a drawing, and after much debate and delay production finally started last week.










Although not quite the same, this lamp at Birmingham Moor street is similar, and gives you a good idea of the general look. They are big!








Below are three of the first glimpses we have of one of the hexagonal lamps being made:

 

One of the reasons for the delay was the choice of electric light fitting, and the late arrival on the scene of a realistic LED fitting that replicates the cluster of gas burners. It caused a last minute redesign, but we will now have it.









Now all we have to do is build the canopy extension, and talks have started with a view to cutting metal and riveting arrangements for completing the steelwork, which currently is partially completed at Toddington.





Wednesday at Winchcombe

Two of our brick layers were absent today, with family duties deserving priority over building a wall. It's what we have to do at our age. Grandchildren, or own parents, our generation seems to be in the middle.

We got Maxie the mixer out, and gave her something to eat and a drink of water, with an added extra - a squirt of washing up liquid, a trick used by the canny brick layer to make the mortar creamier.

Maxie bubbled with pleasure...

There were two brick layers today, with two brick layer's mates. There was a great deal of activity at the stop block end, where a tower is being built to guide those who are to lay the bricks on the other side.

Paul worked on the northern end, increasing the height right up to the top, which is row 12.

Our other brick layer today, Jim, was at the stop block end, a place with limited room and lots of things that get in the way.

You can see his tower rising in the corner on the left here. Almost at the top now.

During a moment of absence we had a peep at what Jim had achieved.

Jim built out this corner, then started a course down the side.

When going down the side on the 7th course, Jim was assisted by his 'brickie's mate' Neil.

This 'assistance' seemed to consist mostly of looking over Jim's shoulder. Ho-ho, well someone has to do it.

At the end of this modest day we had erected a tower up to the 12th course at each end, and Jim had laid the 7th course on the southern end, to bring it level with the northern end, also now on course no. 7. So a straight run through, just over half way up.

Looking in the other direction at the end of the day we can see Paul's tower, and this has made the northern end look very neat, and dare we say, now finished?