The bank is currently being shaped and the foundations for the gabion walls excavated. The gabion baskets are being lined up and the first delivery of stones to fill them has arrived.

Procurement is progressing well, with the steel frame and pre-cast elements currently in design, with fabrication due to commence mid-November. Progress is a little ahead of schedule, but with winter approaching, it is useful to have a bit of flex in the bank - we all know how life stopped last winter when the snow arrived in force!

It was exciting to get to view the samples for the stone work, wooden cladding and sills today, although I may yet be the death of the architect, having viewed the roof colour and decided I would prefer a different shade of grey! I always try to keep the Founder’s vision for the site in my heart when considering new developments, as 132 years ago, he carefully crafted each part of the site and so when building new and bigger structures all these years later, you are conscious not to adversely effect his work. 

It is a short blog week, as I need to get it published today, as tomorrow the southern half of the site will be without power for most of the day and communications will be down.  The contractors need to move several of the overhead power and telecoms cables that are on the Sheffield edge of the dig, which will in turn allow the water pipes to be moved - it is all one big jigsaw puzzle. 

Cat Thompson and Nanci Austin