Bewerley Park Outdoor Centre - Wednesday 29 April 2015

s1In anticipation of completing the wall today, a team of seven gathered for the "topping out" ceremony amid the sunshine and showers.

All the toppers are lined up

Just one more course to be laid before the top stones are placed

After lunch the first toppers go on

Nearly complete

Barry, Graham & Paul all compete to be the person to lay the final stone

The completed wall with the "magnificent seven" (from left to right - Graham, Richard, Catriona, Roger, Paul, Barry & Tony)

 

Tony

Bewerley Park Outdoor Centre

It was a bright warm day in April, and the clocks had struck nine not 30 minutes past. Six wallers descended on Bewerley to move stones in the sunshine. All were much heartened by the news that the 8 smaller plaques, which were to have been placed in the wall, and for which templates and spaces had been provided, were so coveted by their creators that they had decided to keep them.

With a slight amount of re-jigging, the wall was reorganised and the gaps where reticent carvings were to be housed were filled by more humble blocks. A single top stone was placed, and the wallers departed tired, warm and dusty.

Before lunch

After Lunch

At the end of the day

Wallers: Barry, Paul, Catriona, Roger, Graham and Richard

Grid Ref: SE 16150 64713

Extra Photos: Here

Bewerley Park Outdoor Centre - Wednesday 15 April 2015

A return to the “commemorative” wall, with a team of seven (Barry, Catriona, Graham, Paul, Richard, Roger and Tony).

The first task was to take a trip to Coldstones Quarry to collect the stone donated by Hansons. The transport was provided by the Bewerley Centre and many thanks go Jim our driver, for navigating around the weighing in and out procedure at the quarry.

After being kitted out with our safety clothing the task of loading the stone on to the trailer could start

Due to the weight restrictions of the trailer it was necessary to make two journeys. According to the weighbridge figures we had collected just under 2 tons of stone.

On return to Bewerley the unloading of stone commences (that is Jim on the right)

It was now time to check whether the main plaque would fit into the allocated space on the wall

Having concluded that the plaque would fit, it was decided to break for lunch in the “Barn Restaurant”

Fully refreshed after lunch, it was now time to start the task of “cementing” in the plaque. The first task was to drill holes into the side to insert the wire supports

It was then lifted into position (with Richard and Graham doing the heavy lifting)

Richard is left holding the stone, whilst Catriona prepares the cement mix (this activity was not allowed to be recorded as it may have contravened the DRY stone walling accepted practices)

In position and can anyone spot the cement

Steady progress is made at the other end of wall, making full use of the newly arrived stone

At close of play

Don’t worry the plaque is temporarily hiding behind the direction sign

Tony

Bewerley Park Outdoor Centre - Wednesday 25 March 2015

Today’s team consisted of Barry, Graham, Richard, Roger and Tony. 

Having completed a final sort of the different stone sizes, it is apparent that we may not have sufficient stone left to complete the wall. Richard had previously made contact with Hansons at the Coldstones Quarry to enquire about the possibility of obtaining additional stone. So Richard and Tony went off to the quarry to meet Shirley (Hanson’s Site Manager) and were taken to a pile of stones.

Richard examines a potential supply of stone

The good news is that the stone will be donated free, providing we can arrange for it to be collected. Next Tuesday, Barry and Tony will be back at the quarry to select approximately 2 -3 tons of suitable sized stone.

In the meantime, Barry, Graham and Roger continue with the good work 

Back from the quarry, Tony gets to work on the bridge end of the wall 

Richard gathers up the remaining loose stone 

Barry tackles a tricky stone shaping task

    

Nearly time to finish for the day

At close of play

 

Bewerley Park Outdoor Centre

There were just two wallers at Bewerley for the morning stint. Catriona and I (Richard) attempted to raise the wall to the same hight along it's whole length. Thankfully we were joined by Graham in the afternoon, who helped us achieve our aim. We spent a final half hour transporting the stone from the other side of the bridge a little nearer it's target destination.

 

 

 

Grid Ref: SE 16150 64713

Extra Photos: Here