[email protected] wrote: > Dave Wedd wrote: > > 2009/12/2 peteuk <[email protected]>: > > > >> --- In [email protected], Dave Wedd <dave.w...@...> wrote: > >> > >>> Now if BW were wanting to build lodgings for volunteers as part of > >>> their commitment to becoming a third-sector organisation, maybe I > >>> wouldn't have been objecting to the loss of wharf facilities, etc. > >>> > >> Yes - done the full kipping range in my time - police cells, disused > >> railway carriges, armouries, disused churches, railway stations, lock > >> cottages, army bases, schools,derelict factories, exhibition tents lorry > >> containers, barns, knackered boats, even the odd village hall and scout > >> hut ! > >> > > > > That's a pretty good range! I can't claim many of them - a church, > > but it wasn't disused (we really shouldn't have left a WRG radio > > switched on during the service...), lock cottage at Chesterfield, > > disused airfield, play school (with toilet doors you can see over), > > infants school (where you have to kneel down to wash your hair under > > the shower), derelict factory on a BCN cleanup, exhibition marquee at > > the national, where you set up your own small tent inside for > > security), and in torrential rain I slept in the site hut at Blunder > > Lock on the Cotswolds. On one occasion we slept on the floor of the > > pub when the village hall was too full. > > > As per Pete's list plus Distillery (King George The IV), Stop plank > hole in bridge - Mongomery C', Stop plank Shed - T&M > 1 refusal - a lorry Garage with flappie sides, earth oil covered floor, > 18" gaps under the doors, and broken windows and that was an organised > venue, but that's why the police cells are on the list, no its not, it > was the armoury that night after a bit of B&E.
I'm surprised Dave didn't mention the derelict bakers' shop on the Basingstoke. (maybe he's blanked it from his memory) I think the roughest place I've ever kipped on a canal dig (at list as an official 'organised' venue) was the abandoned Tapton Lock Cottage on the Chesterfield - all windows boarded up, no electric or water, a one-ring burner to cook on, an Elsan bucket-and-chucket (but no bathroom to put it in)... mutter mutter kids these days mutter mutter... in fairness, Chesterfield Canal Society did well to find us a worksite and accommodation at all with less than 48 hours notice after another canal society cancelled on us due to flooding. Look out for the next issue of 'Navvies' (currently at the printers) - the latest survey is 'What's your most and least favourite ever WRG accommodation?' Martin L
