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

Still not finished at Thrope

After a mornings work at Heathfield Caravan Park where a group of 6 of us reorganised the stone into neat(ish) rows and added a couple of half courses, fuelled by some dainty cakes kindly donated by Tony, Roderick and I (Richard H) popped further up the dale to Thrope. Despite our best intentions and the threat of a zap of lightening we did not managed to finish the wall - it is still in need of half a course and toppers.
The Cuckoo sounded a solitary cuck and the lightening stayed away but a return will be needed.

Grid Ref: SE 10716 74870

OS Map - Here

Group Leader - Richard H.

Richard

Damp and not Done.

Just Roderick and I (Richard H) made it today for what we hoped would be the final stint. I arrived a little late having been to Dacre Banks to see about another walling project.
When I  arrived Roderick had gone on a search further up the wall to try to find everyone thinking he had been abandoned to wall on his own.
The glorious weather of the previous few weeks had abandoned us but the cuckoos who had nearly driven Tony mad last week were in fine song. 
We stoically walled on in the drizzle before calling it a day, as the rain really began to set in, a course and a set of toppers from completion.

 

Grid Ref: SE 10716 74870

OS Map - Here

Group Leader - Richard H.

Richard

Road open to above Thrope

What a relief to find that we could now get to our normal parking area from both Lofthouse and Masham, along a newly surfaced road. First to reach the walling site was Richard P and Tony, followed later by Graham. We were joined at the coffee break by Richard H who had been discussing future walling projects with James. The team leader for today was Graham.

Just before lunch Richard P was feeling unwell and retired for the today.
 

The line is raised to reflect the true height of the wall

 

Maybe two more courses to be added next week to level out before the toppers are placed

 

Richard H places the last stone for the day

 Tony

Three set out only two arrive

I hope checking for road closure doesn't become a weekly necessity. We didn't check for road closures this week, and the road to site was blocked by a great big road surfacing vehicle. Richard P., coming from the Masham end had to admit defeat and return home, whilst Barry and I (Richard H) managed to park just outside Lofthouse and walk to site. Barry took the sensible and far more direct route. I on the other hand took the scenic route along the valley floor. This of course entailed a very steep climb at the end of the lovely stroll. After loosing half my body weight to the effort it's not a climb I intend to do again.

Between the two of us we managed to put about 7 through stones in place and complete a couple of courses. We also determined that we have enough toppers to top the ten or so meters of wall that needs topping.

 

 Late Morning

After Lunch 

The end of the day

Grid Ref: SE 10716 74870

OS Map - Here

 

Richard

Plantation Rock above Lofthouse

Back along the long and winding road to Lofthouse to the wall above Thrope Plantation.  Today's team was Graham, Paul, Richard H, Richard P and Tony.

A return to the wall we left in October last year

With the frames and lines in position lets start walling

Paul is the last man standing at the lunch break

Whilst the lunch break was in progress we were visited by David Coates with a welcome supply of his home produced ice cream

Time to pack up for the day from one of the best views in Nidderdale

Tony

Here there and Everywhere

A varied week this week.  Richard P., Barry, Catriona and Graham spent the morning at Markenfield whilst I went swanning about the countryside

Firstly I visited Pateley Bridge to pick up the walling paraphernalia that James at the AONB has kindly purchased for us. We now have 2 extra walling kits consisting of a bucket, hammer, lines, goggles and chisels. We also have plenty of gloves and enough spare pairs of goggles to protect a whole rugby team. Perhaps most importantly we also have a nice new book about walling, written by the TCV. It tells us all the things we have been doing incorrectly, sorry, I mean all the things we have been doing exactly as they ought to be done.

I also met with Jan from the Tuesday volunteers to see about sharpening tools, unfortunately the AONB's set up is meant for tools which need a much sharper edge that our chisels and walling hammers. Though he says he might be able to do something for us.

After meeting Jan I ventured further up the dale to the heady heights above Lofthouse to check on how much more work was needed to complete the job at Thrope Plantation. It was freezing up there but the view was really rather lovely. I estimate about 3 to 4 Wednesdays of walling to complete the original stretch, however when I went to look at the other gaps further down the wall, they'd already been done! I think David, the farmer, might have decided we're a bit too slow and got someone else on the job.

I raced back to Markenfield for an afternoons walling with the rest of the gang.
Here are a few photos of the state of play, firstly at Lofthouse, and secondly at Markenfield.

THROPE PLANTATION above Lofthouse

 The remaining section of wall to be completed.

Sections of wall that have been mysteriously completed

MARKENFIELD.


Catriona, Barry, Richard P. and Graham had put some decent height into the wall before I waltzed up at lunch time to fiddle about a bit. Here's the wall at the end of the day:-

Richard H.

Grid ref: SE 29558 67806

Map : Here

Above Thrope Plantation - Lofthouse

Graham, Catriona, Rod and I (Richard) set off for a bright and cold day of walling. We were joined later in the morning by Paul, but there was no appearance by David the farmer with Ice cream to further lower the temperature.

 

 

 

 

Grid Ref: SE 10716 74870

OS Map - Here

 

Richard