Wednesday 29 June 2016

A new wall at Spring wood top.

Whilst Tony and Matthew finished off the taster day wall Barry, Paul and Frank made a start on a new Wall near Wath. They had a steep hike up a bridleway to Spring Wood Top where a field wall was in need of a bit of patching up.

The weather was not kind and efforts were abandoned at midday.

Here are some of Barry's pictures:



 First pic is today's stint after we had pushed down the fragile section.

This pic is the bottom end of the field, downhill to the left when viewed from today's job. This appears to be a more serious collapse into land slippage and may need a lot of new stone for adequate foundations.


 This is at bottom right, probably just a replacement of stones that have been displaced by the falling branch.


This next is track-side opposite the house. The wall end is held in place by a bit of scaffold pole. Could be a metre and a half of wall to take down and rebuild.



















Team Leader - Barry S.
Grid Ref: SE 14735 68149

Completion of the Taster Wall at Heathfield

Whilst Barry, Paul and Frank made a start at the Spring Top Wood site, Matthew and Tony set about the completion of the Taster wall.



Only the toppers to go on as the rain started to arrive at midday


The finished wall from both sides

Tony


Wednesday 22 June 2016

FInally Finished at Thrope

A greater than anticipated number of wallers turned up to finish off the taster day wall at Heathfield so two of us decamped to the wall at Thrope above Lofthouse.

Two Dicks, Richard P. and Richard H. spent a gloomy morning and afternoon gathering extra stone and placing it in the relevant positions upon the almost complete wall. The final topper was placed at about 2.30 and Richard P. did a commando roll from the top of the wall in celebration of the event. We then hot footed it back to Heathfield to see the progress there.

A rather dark and brooding day


 A quite large Caterpillar who had taken up residence on the toppers - 2" - 2/12"


The back of the wall once completed

 A view from atop the wall of the top stones



 The front of the wall at the end of the day.


Grid Ref: SE 10716 74870
OS Map - Here
Group Leader - Richard H.
Richard

Taster Wall at Heathfield Caravan Park

Today we welcomed two new members to the group - Matthew (who attended last week's  taster event) and Frank (who wanted to attend the taster day but the event was fully booked).  The other team members were Barry, Catriona, Graham, Richard H, Richard P and Tony (team leader).  

To avoid congestion on the wall, the two Richards departed to complete the wall at Thrope.

 



Matthew and Frank take up their kneeling positions on the wall




At close of play there was one more course and toppers needed

Back next week to complete and gather up the surplus stone
Tony

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Heritage Skills: Dry Stone Walling Taster Day



Hoping for a "dry" day on the wall at the Heathfield Caravan Park for the annual taster event with 10 participants. The NAWG team members in support were Barry, Graham, Paul, Richard H and Tony.  



The indoor presentation was held in the old Heathfield Smelt Mill now used as the sports hall and for indoor events at the caravan park. Following introductions by Liz Milner (AONB Discovery & Learning Project Officer) it was time for Kev Cale, to explain about the history and archaeology of dry stone walls in Nidderdale. 









After Kev finished his presentation at 11.30am, we moved the group to the wall and did the safety briefing. The group was then split between the four NAWG members. (Richard unfortunately had to retire to get treatment for a bee sting he suffered on his hand the day before).   We broke for lunch from 12.45 to 1.30pm back in the sports hall (many thanks to Leanne Fox for providing a superb buffet). 












Unfortunately, we had to curtail the afternoon walling session at 3.30pm due to the arrival of the slurry machine in the adjoining field (a different slant on a “taster” day). 

A quick retreat from the slurry fumes

A job well done
Before departing there was an opportunity back in the sports hall to hear more about the work of the walling group and hand out copies of the TCV leaflets “How To”” and “Why dry stone wall”.  At least three people expressed an interest in joining the walling group.


Thanks to Liz for the following pictures:








Tony