Bristol's historic lock gates turned into furniture
Click on this image
to view the BBC Bristol
online article about
the historic lock gates.
I was commissioned by BAM Nuttal to create benches from the lock gates that have been removed from Bristol's floating harbour. The gates where originally put in during the 1870's, and have been there since.
It was a fantastic opportunity for me to try something that had never been done before. I felt privileged to be working on such pieces.
You can see the difference between the top picture and the picture to the left. There was much dusty dirty work in the transformation.
A ceremony was held for the construction company to hand over the commemorative benches to the City of Bristol Harbour.
I received great help from a fellow furniture maker Daniel Lincoln, we worked together transforming them from filthy, tar soaked, splintered dangerous pieces, into cleaner useable symbols of Bristol heritage.
Daniel used chain saws to remove large amounts of the dangerous waste material, and we worked hard together grinding and sanding the pieces into shape.
I must also thank everyone at Chelvey Designer makers workshop who helped, especially Nigel Howe, without his forklift the work would not have been possible.
Delivery of second lock gate bench to Bristol harbourside
The video below shows the second commemorative bench being lifted at delivery.
Own your own piece of Bristol Heritage
With the offcuts from the two benches I have been able to make various benches and stools. Although they are small they are still quite heavy, but nowhere near the 2 tonnes of the benches on the harbourside!