Great Wall of Matlock
Team acts quickly to plug breach after floodwall collapse
Construction takes place from temporary platform in the River Derwent.
Our impact
36hrs
Hours after emergency call-out to complete bank stabilisation
600
Number of rock bags to build working platform
800t
Size of crane on standby during scheme
Rock bags were used to temporarily plug the breach in the riverside floodwall.
Floodwall collapse
Jackson’s involvement in this project started in the wake of Storm Eunice in February 2022.
Raised water levels in the River Derwent contributed to a bank collapse at Matlock in Derbyshire, taking a floodwall and outbuildings into the river.
The Environment Agency mobilised Jackson and within 24 hours a full team was on site.
With support from Derbyshire County Council, the nearby A6 highway was closed to allow the siting of a 150t crane, so sandbags could be lowered down the bank to plug the breach. Within 36 hours of the call out the initial stabilisation work was completed.
In the weeks that followed, the team installed a more substantial temporary solution using rock bags and carried out general investigations for future repairs.
Balancing act: Vehicle movements are restricted to protect wildlife including over-wintering as well as nesting birds.
The wall was clad in local stone – in keeping with the Grade II-listed Matlock Bridge.
Platform working
With no access from land, the emergency repairs took place from a platform constructed in the river.
Using a 800t crane, up to 600 2-tonne rock bags were lifted into the Derwent to form a working platform. The crane stayed on standby to remove equipment from the platform if high water levels were forecast.
Booms, straw bales and water quality monitors were used downstream to mitigate any risk of pollution.
A total of 66 steel sheet piles up to 11m in length were installed into the limestone riverbed and encased in concrete to form the new wall. Locally sourced stone cladding was added, so the structure was in keeping with the adjacent 13th century bridge.
Lifty McShifty
As the team was based in the centre of Matlock, Jackson worked with the EA to put together a comprehensive programme of public engagement activities.
These included public information days, school visits, work to improve parks and support for sports clubs including canoeists who use the river – all designed to inform local people about the importance of the project and make them feel supportive of the work.
A family day and ‘Name the Crane’ event was especially popular. It saw the site opened to the public, so people could enjoy a host of activities and put forward suggestions for a name for the giant crane. More than 170 responses were received before ‘Lifty McShifty’ was decided on through a public vote.
Name the Crane Day was a fun way of informing local people about the importance of the project.
