Hagg Leys Farm

Category: dry stone walling (Page 2 of 7)

Connecting the orchard and the top field

June 8, 2015 /

There is a dry stone wall between the orchard and the top field.  There has been a gap in it for a while – where we didn’t quite join the new dry stone wall to the orchard wall.  We have decided to close this gap and make a proper one a little further along the wall.  The ground level in the top field and the orchard is slightly different, so there will be a step down into the orchard.  Fortunately, we had a piece of ashlar left over from the renovation.  No one can remember why it was ordered, but it seems to fit here a treat.

Hole in the wall

The step is level - honest. We used a spirit level on it. There are a couple of flagstones at the back to increase the width of the step. You can see that we have started to build up the left handside. We have overlapped the wall onto the step to make it all a little more robust.

The step is level – honest. We used a spirit level on it. There are a couple of flagstones at the back to increase the width of the step. You can see that we have started to build up the left handside. We have overlapped the wall onto the step to make it all a little more robust.

The left hand side has now been built up. Like the walls themselves, the end leans back as it is a more stable structure.

The left hand side has now been built up. Like the walls themselves, the end leans back as it is a more stable structure.

We used some big stones out of the old barn directly on top of the step.

We used some big stones out of the old barn directly on top of the step.

Both sides of the new opening have been built up. The next job was to make sure that the top of the wall was level - both sides of the opening - before putting the coping stones on.

Both sides of the new opening have been built up. The next job was to make sure that the top of the wall was level – both sides of the opening – before putting the coping stones on.

Wall in the bottom field

June 1, 2015 /

There is a wall (sort of) and a gate in the bottom field.  I suspect that this was the main route into the property before Upper Hagg Road existed.  You can see a “running joint” down the outside of the wall where the wall with the gate joins the wall along the road.  I think this is because the gate wall pre-dates the wall along the road.

The wall to the left of the gate was in decent shape and we did repair it earlier in the year.  The wall on the right of the gate, however, was largely missing.  I am not sure how this had happened since the top part of the wall seems to have survived in tact.  Anyway, with lots of stone left over, it seemed like a good idea to have a bit of a tidy up.

The wall to the left of the gate is not too bad, but the wall on the right was largely missing, until I started building it back up. The gate posts have the hooks (iron hooks held in place with lead) on the other side of the gate posts. The only way the gates would have opened would have been away from the camera. So the land the other side of these gates must have been built up - the gates would never have opened against the built up soil.

The wall to the left of the gate is not too bad, but the wall on the right was largely missing, until I started building it back up. The gate posts have the hooks (iron hooks held in place with lead) on the other side of the gate posts. The only way the gates would have opened would have been away from the camera. So the land the other side of these gates must have been built up – the gates would never have opened against the built up soil.

The wall to the right of the gate was non-existent next to the gate post. We have used all sorts of odd stone to build it up. Once it weathers in, you would think that it had been there for a hundred years.

The wall to the right of the gate was non-existent next to the gate post. We have used all sorts of odd stone to build it up. Once it weathers in, you would think that it had been there for a hundred years.

 

The wall on the right handside needs to be built up quite a bit - there was no wall against the gatepost before we started. The area beneath the wall with the coping stones has been used as a bit of dumping ground. Lots of old bathroom tiles, concrete and general garbage. We have bagged most of this up to go to the dump together with the other rubbish that we continue to dig up.

The wall on the right handside needs to be built up quite a bit – there was no wall against the gatepost before we started. The area beneath the wall with the coping stones has been used as a bit of dumping ground. Lots of old bathroom tiles, concrete and general garbage. We have bagged most of this up to go to the dump together with the other rubbish that we continue to dig up.

 

Dry stone wall finished!

May 27, 2015 /

Well, after 2.5 years we have managed to finish the dry stone wall along the side of the orchard and the top field.  It was November 2012 when I finished building the first bit of “test” wall – I did this after attending a weekend dry stone walling course.  I did keep a record of how many days that we spent dry stone walling, but lost count at around 20.  I suspect that we have spent between 50-60 days over the last couple of years rebuilding this wall.  We have worked on other walls around the property during this time as well as building the retaining walls in the patio, so we haven’t been doing nothing.

The finished wall is around 110m in length.  The wall was in pretty bad shape when we started the project and the vast majority of it has been taken down and totally rebuilt – we have only managed to keep around 3-4 metres of the original wall.

The wall isn’t perfect, but then dry stone walls never are!  They are a reflection of the quality of the stone that goes into it.  This wall contains the well rounded gritstone that made up the field boundaries, but now contains additional stone left over from the building work or some of the demolitions.  While the wall in the orchard is largely straight, the one along the side of the top field has quite a few wiggles in it – mainly due to trees.  We still have some stone left over from the building work, so I suspect there is some more dry stone walling to come.

It is just over 110 metres from the gate around to the far Ash tree in the distance.

It is just over 110 metres from the gate around to the far Ash tree in the distance.

It is just over 110 metres in length and the original "test section" of wall is in the far distance next to the furthest tree. With each metre of wall containing around 1 tonne of stone, this has been a bit of a labour of love over the last couple of years.

It is just over 110 metres in length and the original “test section” of wall is in the far distance next to the furthest tree. With each metre of wall containing around 1 tonne of stone, this has been a bit of a labour of love over the last couple of years.

 

The fields on this side of the wall don't belong to us so for now we have just had a bit of a tidy up.

The fields on this side of the wall don’t belong to us so for now we have just had a bit of a tidy up.

You can see the wiggles on both sides of the wall. Plus we also have a fair amount of stone to move before we can start moving right up to this wall.

You can see the wiggles on both sides of the wall. Plus we also have a fair amount of stone to move before we can start mowing right up to this wall.

The bit of wall to the right of the original test section (it is a slightly paler colour) looks a bit of a mess! I think I might have to have a go at rebuilding that bit. If only for vanity's sake.

The bit of wall to the right of the original test section (it is a slightly paler colour) looks a bit of a mess! I think I might have to have a go at rebuilding that bit. If only for vanity’s sake.

 

 

More dry stone walling

June 10, 2014 /

We completed the dry stone wall in the orchard last year.  Now that the builders have gone, it is time to start extending the wall (or rather re-building the wall) along the edge of the top field.  Not only will this tidy things up a bit, but it will also help us get rid of some of the “spare” stone that we have in the top field.  The “spare” stone made up part of the old toilet block and barn that we demolished to make way for the new extension.

The first job is to clear away all of the undergrowth in this part of the field.  This is where a petrol strimmer comes in handy! Then it is a case of taking the old wall down to a level where we get on to something solid that we can build off.  There are a number of large trees along this wall line and this makes life a little harder.  There is no point in trying to dig the roots out – we would be there forever and we would probably end up damaging the tree.  You have to work with what is there and this can mean that the line of the wall is not as straight as you might like.  You have to work with the trees and their roots.

It has taken us about three days to clear and re-build a 20ft section of the wall.  As always, it looks terrible until you are just about to put the topping stones on (and then it looks OK).

This section of wall bends around from the orchard to from the edge of the wall in the top field. You can't use string to line up the wall here, so it is all done by eye. The roots from the trees also mean that digging the foundations can be difficult. In some places, we have had to follow the line of the old wall - even when it wasn't straight!

This section of wall bends around from the orchard to from the edge of the wall in the top field. You can’t use string to line up the wall here, so it is all done by eye. The roots from the trees also mean that digging the foundations can be difficult. In some places, we have had to follow the line of the old wall – even when it wasn’t straight!

Now this corner of field has been cleared, we can get on with rebuilding the dry stone wall along the edge of the top field.

Now this corner of field has been cleared, we can get on with rebuilding the dry stone wall along the edge of the top field.

Some more photos from placing the toppings

April 21, 2014 /

Courtesy of Jo……

Yes, I did say the weather was good on this day. By mid afternoon, the sun had come out. I even took my hat and coat off and got a sun tan!

Yes, I did say the weather was good on this day. By mid afternoon, the sun had come out. I even took my hat and coat off and got a sun tan!

Me and Gordon trying to work out the best way of placing the toppings. They aren't all the same shape, so some of them have to be chocked at the back to make the tops level (hence the yellow spirit level and the bit of string).

Me and Gordon trying to work out the best way of placing the toppings. They aren’t all the same shape, so some of them have to be chocked at the back to make the tops level (hence the yellow spirit level and the bit of string).

The boss. Under a blanket. Zep has selected these stones personally and they are now under guard. Soon long as he doesn't fall asleep!

The boss. Under a blanket. Zep has selected these stones personally and they are now under guard. Soon long as he doesn’t fall asleep!

Walls in the sunken garden

April 20, 2014 /

We have made the best of the good weather over the Easter Bank holiday and have been finishing off (or attempting to) the walls in the sunken garden.

We now have the large topping stones on the upper wall.  This is a two man job as many of the stones are too heavy to be lifted by one person.  Many thanks to Gordon for his help in getting this is place.  And no flatten fingers or toes in the process!

We are going to use reclaimed flagstones to pave this area, but this is going to have to wait for a little while.  We looked at new Ashlar flags (they would look too new) and Indian sandstone (really, what in Yorkshire!), but we are going to hang on until we have the money to put down reclaimed local stone.  At £50-60 a square meter it isn’t cheap and with around 100sqm in the sunken garden, it all adds up.

And while we are on the subject of money, we decide to invest in our own cement mixer.  We bought a second hand one on eBay for £150.  If we sell it in 4-6 months time for £100, it will have cost us £50.  In contrast to the £40/week it would have cost to hire.  It was a bit of a no-brainer.

We now have the topping stones on the upper wall in the sunken garden. The smaller ones are just about manageable by one person, the larger ones require two to lift. The end stone is a monster and two of us struggled, but we got there in the end.

We now have the topping stones on the upper wall in the sunken garden. The smaller ones are just about manageable by one person, the larger ones require two to lift. The end stone is a monster and two of us struggled, but we got there in the end.

The upper wall complete with toppings. These topping stones are 30cms high x 20cms wide x 40cms deep. There are cut from old stones in one of the local quarries. Many of them are old steps, window heads or door cills.

The upper wall complete with toppings. These topping stones are 30cms high x 20cms wide x 40cms deep. There are cut from old stones in one of the local quarries. Many of them are old steps, window heads or door cills.

You can see the topping stones on the upper wall in the background, we are still working on the remaining walls. Hopefully, these will be finished in the next couple of days.

You can see the topping stones on the upper wall in the background, we are still working on the remaining walls. Hopefully, these will be finished in the next couple of days.

We still need to get the end wall up to the same level before we can put the topping stones on. We decided to invest in a second-hand cement mixer.

We still need to get the end wall up to the same level before we can put the topping stones on. We decided to invest in a second-hand cement mixer.

Clear Cladding

February 4, 2014 /

The gable nearest the roadside is South West facing and as a result tends to get a lot of bad weather.  This has obviously been a long term problem since the interior of this gable end had been dry lined previously.

We have put a waterproof membrane on the inside of the all, but decided that a coat of a silicone sealant would do not harm.  We decided to use Clear Cladding from Belzona as this is a micro porous silicone product and as such allows the wall to continue to breathe.  This is an alternative to Sovereign that seems to be popular with many builders.

Clear cladding is expense – it is around £100 for a 1 litre tin – however, this concentrate is diluted before it is applied and a small amount seems to go a long way.  The product dries clear and it is difficult to tell where (or not) it has been applied to the wall.

Clear cladding is a silicone based product that is used to seal stonework and mortar. This concentrate is mixed 1:9 with water. As a result a small amount goes a very lond way. It is important to make sure that you don't get any of the solution on glass as it is nearly impossible to get off!

Clear cladding is a silicone based product that is used to seal stonework and mortar. This concentrate is mixed 1:9 with water. As a result a small amount goes a very lond way. It is important to make sure that you don’t get any of the solution on glass as it is nearly impossible to get off!

This has now been treated with clear cladding. It was done the previous day and you can tell the bits that have (and haven't) been coated. Let's see if it works!

This has now been treated with clear cladding. It was done the previous day and you can tell the bits that have (and haven’t) been coated. Let’s see if it works!

Upper terrace wall

November 26, 2013 /

I have just about finished the wall in the upper terrace in the sunken garden.  There are just the coping stones to go on.  These are being produced in a local quarry and with any luck should arrive this week.  It will be good to get this wall finished.  I still have the lower wall to complete and there is probably 2-3 days left on it before the coping stones can go on that too.

With the weather closing in, it will be good to get on with the next task (insulating the rafters in the extension) which is an indoor job!

Despite some pretty wet and muddy conditions, the upper terrace wall is now ready for coping stones.

Despite some pretty wet and muddy conditions, the upper terrace wall is now ready for coping stones.

Walls in the sunken garden

November 25, 2013 /

We are making good progress on the walls in the sunken garden.  There are terraces on two different levels, so there are plenty of walls here.  The walls are built using reclaimed stone that we purchased.  It is relatively flat and uniform so it makes pretty good walling stone.

We have almost finished the wall on the upper terrace.  The coping stones are due to be delivered later this week, so it won’t be long before we get to see what the finished wall will look like.

The top wall in the sunken garden is directly outside the master bedroom. This will be the view through the bi-folding doors (once they are fitted).

The top wall in the sunken garden is directly outside the master bedroom. This will be the view through the bi-folding doors (once they are fitted).

The top wall in the sunken garden is nearing completion. We are expecting the coping stones sometime this week, so it will be good to see them go on.

The top wall in the sunken garden is nearing completion. We are expecting the coping stones sometime this week, so it will be good to see them go on.

It was cold and wet and I was doing the best I could to put a brave face on the situation! In the other photos, I looked like Benny Hill!

It was cold and wet and I was doing the best I could to put a brave face on the situation! In the other photos, I looked like Benny Hill!

Courtyard garden wall

October 5, 2013 /

The weather was ok today with no rain, so we spent the whole day on the wall in the courtyard garden.  We have now got the end wall above the level of the blockwork for the reatining wall.  The wall will need to come up a little further, but it will do for now.  We are now starting to work on the wall that will adjoin the timber steps that lead to the upper terrace.

We spent most of the day today building the wall in the courtyard. We are making the most of the fine weather, after all, it isn't going to be last much longer. We are now about to turn the corner where the timber steps will be built.

We spent most of the day today building the wall in the courtyard. We are making the most of the fine weather, after all, it isn’t going to be last much longer. We are now about to turn the corner where the timber steps will be built.

The end wall is now up to the same level (and in some place, above) the retaining blockwork. We have used 3 one tonne bags of 3.5 inch stones and one bag of "jumpers" (the bigger 6 inch stones).

The end wall is now up to the same level (and in some place, above) the retaining blockwork. We have used 3 one tonne bags of 3.5 inch stones and one bag of “jumpers” (the bigger 6 inch stones).

We are sorting out the reclaimed stone as we build the wall. The stones are sorted into groups according to their height. All of these stones are 8cms high.

We are sorting out the reclaimed stone as we build the wall. The stones are sorted into groups according to their height. All of these stones are 8cms high.

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