Fewston Cemetery, Meagill Lane – 19 March 2014

A change of venue as we tackle a series of gaps in the boundary wall at the Meagill Lane Cemetery.  The repairs are required to stop livestock from the adjoining field  entering the cemetery grounds.  The team this week is  Barry, Catriona, Chris, Graham, Richard H, Richard P, Roderick, and Tony.

  When burials ceased in the churchyard at Fewston a new cemetery was opened here in 1911.

 The team begins to arrive

 A warning sign of what to expect

 A first look at what needs to be done. It was decided to split the team into two groups of four to tackle the first two (of many) gaps

 The first gap

and the second gap

 A familiar landmark can be seen in the distance.

 
 

 After clearing down to the foundations the rebuilding can now start.

 Time for a break

Chris inspects the finished section of the first gap.

A few more stones are needed to complete the second gap next week.

 

 Chris checks out the next gap for repair.

Tony

Park Pale Markenfield Hall – 12 March 2014

We returned to the Pale wall to complete the 12 metre (or 40 feet in old money) stint before moving on to our next project.  With a team of 10  (Barry, Catriona, Chris, Graham, Paul, Richard H, Richard P, Roderick, Roger and Tony) expectations were high that the task would be completed today.

A misty start but it is all systems go.

Paul and Roderick on their rest break, debating where they should place the pile of spare stones. 

 

The sun finally came out by lunch time.

 

The top course is put in place and the tidy up begins.

 

The next stretch of wall - a future task perhaps ?

        

A last look back before heading home.

Tony

The Park Pale at Markenfield Hall - 5 March 2014

Back to the Pale wall with a team of eight  (Catriona, Chris, Graham, Paul, Richard H, Richard P, Roger and Tony).

At our mid-morning break we received a visit from Ian Curteis. He explained that the field behind us was used to create bunkers to train soldiers from the Ripon camp, before they headed out to fight on the front line in the First World War. 

With regard to progress on the wall, Chris explained that the aim was to finish rebuilding this current stretch and then move on to the group’s next project. A further return to the pale wall would be planned for in the future.  Ian thanked everyone for all the work they had done so far.

So come on everyone lets get started

  

      The view over to the "trench" field



      

 A "cheek end" is built to mark the finish of the current phase

Back next week to complete

The Park Pale at Markenfield Hall - 26 February 2014

Before commencing our outdoor duty, the morning started with the NAWG AGM held in the Undercroft of Markenfield Hall with 13 members attending.  After the meeting we were treated to a brief history talk by the owner Ian Curteis and a guided tour of the Great Hall and Chapel.

More information about the Hall can be found here http://www.markenfield.com/

Around midday, eight volunteers revisited the Pale wall to tackle a new stint.  

  

Everyone putting their backs into the task.

Richard has his eye on just the right stone.



Another stretch stripped out and partially rebuilt.

  
 

The Park Pale at Markenfield Hall - 19 February 2014

A team consisting of Catriona, Richard P, Richard H, Paul, Roger, Graham D and Tony completed topping out another length of the wall. 

 A visit from Chris (resting from the previous day's exertions whilst walling) to check on our progress.

  Big decision to be made by Chris whether to lift a stone or not.

 Paul did not hear the call for the lunch break.

 Nearly completed and Graham starts to tidy up.

The finished section

Is this the next section to rebuild  ??

Jenny Ruth Project

Here are the pictures showing the finished wall which was completed just before Christmas.

Updated by Tony H

Hello again!

Having been chastised about the lack of blogging this year I thought it was probably high time I logged back in to update the world on our comings and goings.

Well there have been stints at Markenfield Hall, a crack at the competition wall on the Pateley Showground (not to compete but complete!), a long slog down the hill in Hackfall, a short push out at Bramhope, some rather exciting dry (ish) stone wall boundary markers for the Aonb, we've been revisited by some old Friends, made new friends and very sadly said goodbye to a good friend.

I have been shamefully missing from the wallface but that's the gist of it, I'm sure there's more and as it comes to me I'll update the blog accordingly.

So fast forward to October 2013 and we find ourselves working a lovely project for the Jenny Ruth Workshops, find out more about the fantastic work they do here http://www.jennyruth.co.uk.  We are creating a new wall adjacent to the workshop to enhance an outdoor work space.  A challenging project with curves and steps, the spirit levels are out and heavy duty equipment is in place, a stone dressing table is in the offing, this is taking walling into the next century!! Wait.., we're already there!

Over the past few weeks we've sorted the stone, laid the foundations and we're just starting the first lift.  The going is muddy but we are adequately compensated with tea breaks, hot and cold running water and on site loos!

In short we're having a blast! 

Photos below, see you soon, Em.

Roger is learning to cope with the toppers.

Paul and the incredible horizontal foundation.

Oops looked at the foundations slightly funny and they're no longer horizontal!

Cope manufactioning facility.

Looks like a very small wall has sprung up between Roderick and Roger (I think I feel a Monty Python sketch coming on!)

Chris deminstrates the finer points of using the guillotine.

Paul at Richard gather at the guillotine to witness the stone decapitation!