Markenfield - A rival group?

Roderick returned from Portugal this week with tales of sun bathing and heat waves, well welcome back is all we can say. Catriona came with news of a rival walling group working at the other side of the park pale; I have been unable to verify the rumours with Ian Curteis who was not to be found in residence when I went calling in the afternoon. Graham and I had no such exciting revelations but they were able to put a few stones in place. The second stretch of wall now only requires topping off, we can then proceed to dismantling a new section next week on our last walling day of the year.

Here are some photos.

The front of the wall just before break

 

 

The back of the wall just before break

 

 See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Three wise...

Another course goes up

And another 

 

At the end of the day just the toppers are required. 

Richard H.

Grid ref: SE 29558 67806

Map : Here

Markenfield Hall Park Pale - Wednesday 2 December 2015

The day looked like it would stay dry long enough to take us past lunch time. The hope was that the brisk wind would keep the rain away.  The team today was Catriona, Graham, Paul, Richard H, Richard P and Tony. 

Paul and Tony get to work at low level

The rest of the team take up their positions 

It was discovered that the cheek end at the beginning of the wall (rebuilt in 2011) had suffered a knock, so Graham and Richard P set about some rectification work.

The position showing  the rebuild  progress at lunch time

Back at the far end of the wall at lunch time

 

The rebuilt cheekend

Graham carries out a final check

 

To avoid the threatening rain a closure notice went up along the wall at 2.30pm

 

 

Paul gives a second opinion on the completed cheekend

 Tony

Markenfield Mudlarking

 I say mudlarking, but really the mud of the last few weeks was concpicious by it's absence, which was nice. Instead a bright and breezy day greeted the four fortunate fellows who were more than glad to see the back of a particularly bad run of rainy Wednesdays. 

The first section of wall was brought up to finished height and an impressive amount of stone was cleared in order to start a new stretch off wall next week.

We disturbed a couple of sleeping toads, various beetles, and a number of shoot-gun cartridges in pursuit of our aims and finished the day with a nice clear run for next weeks participants.  

The wall at break time

The state of things at lunchtime

The wall at the end of the day

Cleared and ready for next week

Richard H.

Grid ref: SE 29558 67806

Map : Here

Markenfield Hall

An early start was made today in order to avoid the rain that dogged the wallers last week. Did it work? Did it heck. The rain arrived 5 minutes after we did and proceeded to marinade the wallers until an early finish at 12.30. Despite the rain good progress was made by a four man team consisting of two Dicks, a Graham and Barry.
Photos to prove we got wet whilst doing some walling.

The start of the day

At break time

Just before the rain drove us away

Richard H.

Grid ref: SE 29558 67806

Map : Here

Markenfield Hall Park Pale

So back to Markenfield it is. I know I've missed the old wall, not sure if I'm alone in this or not. Just a short back and sides was needed in order for Graham, Paul, Barry, and two Richards to have a go at a bit of dismantling, prior to some re-mantling.
The weather forecast was not great but at least it was accurate. We all got very wet. Richard P. departed shortly before lunch. Graham soldiered on for a couple of hours more till he too had had enough.
The rain only eased up after the remain 3 wallers, Paul, Richard H. and Barry had finally decided to trudge back to the car park, having laid the foundations.

 

The wall before it's haircut

 

Dismantling the heap underneath the vegetation

 

A foundation course. 

Richard H.

Grid ref: SE 29558 67806

Map : Here

Eastwoods Farm, near Bryans Wood - Wednesday 28 October 2015

On a wet and misty day a smaller than normal group were on duty. The team of three (Richard H, Roderick and Tony) were joined by the new volunteer coordinator, James Searle, who admitted that he was new to walling.  We also had the pleasure again of Phil Dolphin to keep us in check, especially when we deviated from standard walling techniques.

 

The ““cup-and-rings” stone is firmly placed into the wall

 

The two wall ends were completed before lunch time with a decision to abandon any further work due to the pouring rain.

  

Tony

Eastwoods Farm, near Bryans Wood - Wednesday 21 October 2015

A return to the “Cup and Rings” site.  We were last here in July 2014 when we unearthed another cup and ring stone. This resulted in work being halted whilst English Heritage were consulted. 

The tape measure is extended to 12" to indicate the size

The advice from English Heritage is that the stone should now be built into the wall. 

Today’s team consisted of Barry, Catriona, Graham, Paul, Richard H, Roderick and Tony. . We were also supported by Phil Dolphin (Master Waller) courtesy of the Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership.  Phil will be providing advice and guidance on our walling technique. 

Our task is to create two wall ends, leaving a sufficient opening to allow cattle to pass through. This hopefully will  divert the cattle away from the current gap which has the  exposed “cup-and-ring” stone.

A  start is made on defining the line of the wall

The ““cup-and-rings” stone is ready to be placed in the wall

The mid-morning break

                     The two wall ends begin to take shape under the watchful eyes of Phil

 

At close of play

Tony