RESTORATION.
BIG BERTHA REMAINED IN MR MOSSOPS YARD IN PRESTON STREET FOR SOME TIME SINCE HE WAS THEN VERY BUSY RESTORING OTHER CANNONS. EVENTUALLY, IN FEBRUARY OF 2004 HE LIFTED THE CANNON FROM ITS HIDING PLACE AND WEIGHED UP THE TASK. CLEARLY IT WAS GOING TO BE A MUCH HARDER TASK THIS TIME FOR MOTHER NATURE HAD TAKEN HER TOLL. HAVING BEEN BURIED IN THE GROUND AND WATER FOR OVER 100 YEARS THE EVIDENCE OF DECAY WAS EASY TO SEE. THE BARREL WAS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY CORROSION WHILE THE MOUTH OF THE CANNON HAD VIRTUALLY BEEN EATEN AWAY.
BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE CANNON THE USUAL WOODEN WHEELS WOULD BE UNSATISFACTORY SO , BEING THE THRIFTY CUMBRIAN HE IS ,JOHN ACQUIRED IRON BOGIE WHEELS FROM A FRIENDLY LOCAL SCRAPYARD. THE CARRIAGE PRESENTED HIM WITH LITTLE PROBLEMS FOR THE JOB COINCIDED WITH THE DEMOLITION OF THE NEARBY CHRIST CHURCH SO WHEN THE WORK WAS PROCEEDING HE ACQUIRED SEVERAL OLD BEAMS FROM THE CHURCH AND THESE WERE SHAPED INTO THE CARRIAGE .
BY APRIL OF 2005 WORK HAD PROGRESSED APACE . THE BARREL OF THE CANNON HAD BEEN RESTORED AND THE MOUTH REPLACED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT IT WAS HARD TO SEE THAT THERE HAD EVER BEEN ANY CORROSION AT ALL ,,,TESTIMENT TO THE MAN'S SKILL.
MEANWHILE IN THE BACKGROUND MR ALLAN WAS BUSY ORGANISING SPONSORS TO HELP PAY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS AND INSTALLATION. HE ALSO HAD THE TASK OF FINDING A SUITABLE POSITION FOR THE CANNON . EVENTUALLY IT WAS DECIDED TO POSITION THE FINISHED CANNON OUTSIDE A BUILDING WHICH ITSELF HAD MILITARY CONNECTIONS HAVING ONCE BEEN THE BASE FOR THE CUMBERLAND MILITIA. ACCORDINGLY A PLINTH WAS CONSTRUCTED AND ALL WAS READY FOR THE INSTALLATION.
