The film shows each stage of the construction of the children's paddling pool in Rivelin Valley, Sheffield, in great detail with frequent intertitles to explain the processes. The techniques employed and equipment used are probably typical of the period. Titles: Sheffield Corporation City Engineers' Department The film which you are about to see shows the construction of the Rivelin Valley children's paddling pool for the Parks Department. The detail design, setting out,...

The film shows each stage of the construction of the children's paddling pool in Rivelin Valley, Sheffield, in great detail with frequent intertitles to explain the processes. The techniques employed and equipment used are probably typical of the period. Titles: Sheffield Corporation City Engineers' Department The film which you are about to see shows the construction of the Rivelin Valley children's paddling pool for the Parks Department. The detail design, setting out, supervision and construction of the work was carried out by the Department's Construction Section during the winter of 1950-1951. Piling, stanking and excavation was commenced in November 1950 and the opening ceremony was performed by the Lord Mayor, Alderman T.W. Bridgland, J.P., in July 1951. Rivelin Valley Paddling Pool Intertitle: Downstream view of the site before construction The site is shown with the river flowing past and Rivelin Valley Road to the right. Workmen are on site and construction has started, with some of the piling in place. Intertitle: The diversion of the River Rivelin by piling and clay puddle stanking Some of the piling is shown, with the river in the foreground. Intertitle: Puddling clay to prevent the seepage of water through or beneath the stanking Men are working in the water and treading the clay. Intertitle: Excavation of soft areas in river bed by drag line excavator in wintry conditions With snow on the ground, the excavator is at work. The bucket is emptied into a dumper and as an empty truck manoeuvres into position, the full one empties its load on another part of the site. Intertitle: The 6'' dia cleansing drain with inspection chamber. Draining the pool foundations prior to concreting on the completion of the pool, the drain will be used for cleaning out purposes The pipe can be seen running along a trench and into the inspection chamber. Intertitle: Much of the masonry work on the scheme was carried out in local sandstone obtained from the demolition of two buildings known as the 'Old Mill' situated on the opposite bank of the river. The following scenes depict the smaller of these buildings being demolished A sign on a wall reads 'Hollins Mill'. The sign can then be seen on the side of a stone-built mill. Demolition is in progress, the work being done by hand by men using crowbars. A small bulldozer is then used to clear the site. Intertitle: Masonry work in progress The silt chamber - various forms of construction Workmen are building the walls and there is a more general view of the work completed so far. Intertitle: Completed. Awaiting the fixing of the 12" dia penstock The completed masonry and pipework is shown. Intertitle: River wall and toe wall to Rivelin Valley Rd in course of construction There is a view of the walls running parallel to the road and they are then shown from across the river. Intertitle: Setting out and levelling the pool bed prior to concreting The site is being surveyed using a theodolite and measuring pole. Intertitle: Concrete construction During the progress of the works over 400 tons of concrete were transported from the ICU yd batch mixer at Prince of Wales Rd Depot to the site at Rivelin At the depot a lorry backs-up to the mixer to receive a load of concrete. Intertitle: Unloading, barrowing, tamping and trowel finishing pool bed concrete on site The tipper lorry backs up to the site to unload the concrete. The concrete is laid within the shuttering, followed by tamping and hand finishing with trowels. Intertitle: Typical construction of a weir across the pool Some of the shuttering is in place and an already concreted section is being finished. This is followed by a more general view of the men on site with the S.C.C.E. cabins on the road behind and of the partly completed concrete base. Intertitle: The concave circular end of the pool was constructed in pre-cast concrete in order to obtain the true shape, the semi-circular base being in five sections weighing approx 14 cwt each, whilst the upper bridging portion was designed and cast to conform The partly completed work is shown. Intertitle: Olive Grove Depot - Joiners' Shop Construction of the circular base moulds. Note use of hardboard The interior of the shop and some of the equipment is shown. Two joiners are making the timber mould. Intertitle: Olive Grove Depot - Concrete Manufacturing Shed Pouring concrete in to the circular base and bridging moulds In the depot yard the moulds are filled with concrete from a barrow and finished by hand using trowels. Intertitle: Stripping the moulds, placing the circular end in position on site and concreting over the 9" dia pool outlets A mobile crane lifts the moulds in the yard and loads them on a lorry. A similar crane is used to unload them on site, where they are moved into position on rollers. The moulds are removed and the concrete sections moved into the final position, again using the rollers. After fixing, the completed section is shown. The masonry walls are also being completed and the pipes are covered with concrete. Intertitle: Laying 5 x 10 concrete kerb - manufactured in Olive Grove Depot The kerbs are being laid around the edge of the pool Intertitle: The bottom entrance and footways in progress of construction Some of the new walls and steps are shown and some of the final finishing work is being done on the pool base. Paving slabs are laid around the pool and walls completed. Intertitle: The silt chamber Flow control penstocks installed The chamber is being completed and the equipment installed. Intertitle: The construction of the silt chamber roof shewing concrete being placed over steel troughing. Note workmen fixing shuttering to manholes to allow access to the penstocks Men are shown fitting timber shuttering before concrete is barrowed into place. Background The film ends abruptly and Rivelin Valley Paddling Pool (part 2) appears to have originally been part of the same film The paddling pool was one of the schemes undertaken by Sheffield City Council to celebrate the Festival of Britain in 1951. Provenance Transferred to Sheffield Libraries from the City Council's Publicity Department in 1985