Walling Report December 2022

by Elaine Berwick

Location: Roundhill Farm Dobcross

Conditions: Cold, max 0c, snow on the ground but no wind.

Members Attending: 9

Objective: To reduce the height of a section of the ducks and stakes mortered enclosure wall

Although in many ways a beautiful day, cold and crisp, the continued cold snap added complications to the job as not only did we have to contend with the morter holding portions of the wall together, many stones were also frozen to each other. When essential tools include a sledgehammer, crowbar and chisel you know it’s not an easy job. The members split into 2 teams attacking each end of the wall section, finally meeting in the middle nearly 3 hours later. As it was too cold to do any construction, what else was there to do but retire to a public hostelry to enjoy a libation and swap tales?

The wall before work started
Working at both ends of the section
The members working hard
National Chairman sat on the stone that almost crushed his foot.
Lowered section awaiting further work
At the end of the day