WALLERS' UPDATE
Although the next NCV blog won't be published until 8th September, the walling group have news to share. Let's see what they have been getting up to these last two Wednesdays.
First of all Barry reports on work done at St Cuthbert's Primary school last week (19th August):
A split team this week to knock off two outstanding jobs. Three went to Pateley to repair a gap in the school playing field wall, probably pushed through by grazing cattle on the other side.
The start of the job
Some preliminary work with shears and a sickle exposed the fallen stone and we were pleased to find fairly secure ends to which we could rebuild, and the foundations appeared sufficiently strong without the need to take down to that level. A very convenient pile of surplus stone nearby supplemented the provision and steady progress was made in warm sunshine during the morning. The forecast showers held off until grey clouds loomed over Greenhow and an early lunch was taken under the shelter of an oak tree while the rain passed through. The wall was completed with a satisfying run of top stones, and a finish at 2.30pm.
End of play - Vegetation all gone,
just a nice wall
Whilst all this was going on Duncan explains what was happening at the Timble Bio Hub:
There were three in our team and a kind lady along the lane allowed us to park our cars in front of her house. We started by removing the foundation stones ready for use later.
Before we started
We missed having the mattock and big bar available but we managed eventually. Having laid the first three courses all the decent stone had been used.
By morning break, foundations were
laid and two courses added
We managed to uncover some that had disappeared under the grass but decided to lower the height of the wall to match the other side of the gatepost. Toppers were non existent so we used the largest stones we could find from the reject pile and stole a couple from further down the wall.
Close of play
As for this Wednesday just gone (26th August), Graham reports on work done back at Breaksfold Farm......
We've had a good summer for walling, despite the heat, and this week was one of the best. The threatened rain didn't materialise and instead we had a warm and pleasant day. The six of us worked on some 30 yards of wall.
Andy and Graham, and Simon and Duncan continued on the first fifteen yards, bringing it nearly to coverband level.
Meanwhile Rod and Barry worked on twelve yards of retained wall lowering it in places and generally fixing it ready for toppers.
Barry's and Rod's sections
Barry was at the far end, working all alone, adding four courses to both sides of a two yard gap.
Good progress was made, but we're currently going through a phase where finding the right stone is really hard work. This was made up for by a visit from Liz and, even more so, when Paul and Amanda, who live nearby, walked past and told us what a magnificent wall it was; it's nice to get such praise every now and again.
Amanda and Paul offer congratulations
on a wall well built.
This was our tenth week on site this year, and by next week we will have completed 45 yards of wall, 70% of which has been a total rebuild. We're quite pleased with ourselves!
What you see is all our own work
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