The Spring season opened in a moderate fashion with our first Practice Meet at Lark Hill Lane following two cancellations in February owing to un-wallable weather i.e blowing a hooley and persisting down. A fine turnout with sixteen members present and in the region of 25 yards completed.
The Lark Hill Lane work is an interesting project and we have been fortunate enough to have in our possession two fascinating volumes produce d by the Saddleworth Historical Society, ‘Mapping Saddleworth Volumes 1 and 11.’ – https://www.s a d d l e w o r t h – historical-society.org.uk / pro d u c t – category/p u b li c a ti o n s / Volume 11 confirms that the Harrop Edge Enclosure of which our field at Lark Hill Lane forms a part was confirmed via Royal Assent on 2nd June 1810. The original Surveyor was Mr Joel Hawkyard. Although in poor state much of the wall remains in situ and as we have taken it down the odd finds such as horse shoes and glass bottles indicate that we are indeed working on the original construction; who says tracing doesn’t work? As an aside there is much human tragedy attached to the implementation of the Enclosure Acts -originally spelt ‘Inclosure,’ given that it threw people off the land and forced many to migrate to the disease- ridden towns and cities in order to find work.
Built in the traditional style for Saddleworth the wall adjoins that on Harrop Edge Lane which we commenced repairing Winter 2021 and which conspicuously was built without a batter and topped with Ducks and Drakes; the colloquial style is sloping; it was also partly mortared although the mortar is now all but dust. This endeavour will doubtless prove to be the Branch’s Forth Bridge as it is in the region of 1,000 yards long and we are working on a gap repairs as required basis i.e. as one gap is repaired another one appears.
Our first Training Course of the year took place over the weekend of 26- 27 March and although numbers were reduced owing to cancellations, we still guided eight trainees through the mysteries of our art and their many photos at the end attested to a course well received.
In April our Practice Meet convened at Ridge Hill Farm and work continued on re- building ‘the wall up the hill,’ so- called becaus e much of it travels at a forty- five- degree angle and knocks hell out of old knee joints but Richard Winterbottom our always hospitable farmer is very pleased.
May saw the annual visit to Gorse Hall for another well received and successful Training Course and continuation of ‘the wall up the hill’ for our Practice Meet where we successfully installed, ably guided by our Chairman Chris Bolshaw, a drinking trough / water snook for Richard’s fine herd of beef cattle.
June had a lively end to it with a Training Course at Burnt Spring Farm, Grains Bar (new venue) on behalf of the Canal and River Trust conducted by the laid- back twosome Branch President and Master Craftsman, Carl Watson, and Branch Secretary and National Chairman, Paul Clayton. The site was excellent with a flat profile, good parking, terrific views and much future potential.
The final Sunday of June saw a glamorous handful of Branch members turn out in support of the Saddleworth Show – or was it cake and booze – held once again at Well-i-Hole Farm in Greenfield where they completed a twelve- foot section of wall once again ably led by our dynamic duo of Branch President and Master Stone Waller Carl Watson, and Branch Secretary and National Chairman Paul Clayton.
This wall replaced an old wire fence and included four tonnes of stone. As part of the build a triangular stone was placed in the wall as a tribute to one of our most committed Branch members and finest wallers, Howard Lunn who had attended the Saddleworth Show for as long as anyone can remember but owing to illness was unable to participate. Howard was noted for his amazing ability at fitting ‘toblerones’ and for never leaving even the ugliest stone unattached.
All in all, the Branch has had a busy and interesting start to the season and with many new projects coming on stream not least of which is the rebuilding of a 330-yard perimeter wall at the Branch home site – Burnedge Bent Farm.
Let’s wall.
Best wishes,
Paul Stevenson.