The Inspectors Arrive

Graham, Barry and I wended out way down the hill, past a sheep with most of it's coat trailing behind it, like a cut price royal bride, to put some toppers of the nearly completed section of wall.
A small amount of building was required before the toppers went on, and a large amount of toppers needed hunting down in the out-crop to the South. The morning was spent, by Graham and I, stone collecting. We managed to shift a couple of tonnes down to the wall, whilst Barry made sure the wall was ready for the toppers.
The afternoon was punctuated by yelps and grunts from me whilst trying to lug the larger toppers onto the wall. Barry and Graham completed the task in graceful silence.
The inspectors came after we'd finished to moo their disapproval.

The inspectors gather to give their opinion

At the start and when finished

The 2 heaps of stone Graham and I lugged down the hill (Photo by Graham)

Richard H

Wallers: 3

Nearly topping

Reasonably productive day today with Catriona, Rod, Graham & me. Graham spent all morning gathering stone, and Rod made a couple of trips as well. The drizzle got more persistent at 2.30 so we finished a bit early. Visibility diminished too, but clear enough for a few pics at end of session. We should be able to top-out this section next time.

Wallers - 4
Words - Barry
Photos - Graham 

A long walk to Waite

Rod, Barry and I parked at Coldstones cut Car Park and walked down to site to try to finish off the first stint. Boggieness remained a problem but keeping mobile ameliorated the worst of the sinking feeling.

Rich.

No. Wallers : 3

That sinking feeling

As the sweet smell of the bog wafted up our nostrils for the umpteenth time today, I'm sure Barry, Graham, Rod, Matthew all joined me in thinking ourself very fortunate that we'd swapped the bright sunny vistas at Markenfield for the odoriferous sinking sensation at Ivin Waite.

Despite first inspection seeming to suggest that things had well and truly dried out, first inspection suggestion were wrong. It was wet underfoot and more importantly under foundations. We lugged a few big stones into the bottom of the wall and hoped for the best. Another 2 weeks should see the back of that particular stretch and then it's just the wall return and a small gapping job to do.

Such an accommodating landscape

Before work began

Pondering our predicament

Foundations! Yes that's right Foundations

At the close of the day

T'other side - at the end of the day - after Rod had put the fence back in place

Richard H.
No. Wallers: 5

Garlic and sunshine

The woods behind and around us were filled with garlic and blue bells for our final week at Markenfield.
Catriona, Barry and I were able to do a fair bit of walling in-between greeting the passing walkers, but we didn't managed to finish the section before we move on to Ivin Waite.

The wall at break time front an back

Lunch time

The end of the day

Richard H.
No. of wallers: 3

No Hare here, but deer over there.

I tried to put most of you off with the promise of terrible weather, but I had consulted the wrong oracle and the day turned out rather splendidly. Thankfully Barry, Val and Chris had gleaned their forecast from a more reliable source and informed me of my misguided ways. As I met them at the car park the clouds parted the rains stopped and the sun shone, I claim no causal relationship.

Graham joined us a 11ish and we were able to finish off and top a further section of the wall.

The day was book ended by close encounters with a thankfully docile Bull. The morning saw a deer  of some description (the N.T. deer wardens may be able shed more light on the specific flavour of deer) leaping about the fields, and the return journey back to the car was notable for the presence of a pheasant hen trying to hide in a puddle as we walked just a yard or two either side of her.

Nice bit of bulge where the original foundations stuck out.

A preview of next years Markenfield joy.

Richard H.

No of wallers: 5.

Markenfield Hall in the sun

With the promise of a sunny, warm and dry outlook, where else would you wish to spend a day walling.

Guess who was early again before the team arrived

 

Today the team of Barry, Catriona, Graham, Richard and Tony where joined by Liz (our new AONB walling co-ordinator).

Liz gets started with guidance from Barry

Richard wonders if this stone will fit on the wall

Richard steps up to the occasion

Lunchtime 

At last the big stone fits on the wall

After laying at least three courses along a 15 metre length, it was time to think about closing down 

Barry is the last to stop work

No of wallers 6

Tony