There is a lot on the web about Dry Stone Walling. There are Wallers advertising. There is a Dry Stone Walling Association and no doubt one can get a certificate in dry stone walling.
This area of the Holme and Colne Valleys in Yorkshire, like many parts of the UK is a matrix of dry stone
walls which; given their age and sometimes neglect, require constant attention. The cheapest remedy for the hole of a fallen
section is for it to be plugged with an old gate, bedstead, netting and wire etc
as repairing walls is time consuming and expensive. I have commented before how much work there is as so many need attention and it would be an ideal opportunity for chain-gangs to restore them where the payment of professionals is not a realistic option. Fresh air and exercise and bit of pocket money from the Water Board etc.
A waller surveying his
next project on a very cold day.
This particular hole is in a wall of some fields purchased
by a farmer from the council. The
council saw fit to take away all the topping stones from the interior
walls of the land so it is not surprising they collapse. A pretty good example of vandalism. You can see the edge of the old metalwork and corrugated iron in the top picture that had been used to fill the gap.
However, the area is also blessed with a good number
of excellent wallers, both profession and amateur as well as male and female. There is a living to be made from it and not a
lot of tackle is required either. Two
friends relatively recently went on courses, but many other have learnt the
hard way out of necessity.
Actually I am getting around to mentioning a consummate
local professional and I will just call him 'Darren' to preserve his anonymity.
Maybe I should put his name on here so that he gets recognition for his work but
he doesn’t need my advertising.
'Darren' was walling at the farm where the hedge
laying was taking place some time ago (that I posted earlier) and had to rebuild a long section of boundary wall
there. Having seen his work in several
places around the valley since, I can’t help but admire it whenever I see it.
'Darren' and his team.
The finished wall after some
winter weathering.
Recently he was walling in a terribly exposed area while the constant high winds and driving rain battered him and his mate but he radiated his cheerful good humour regardless. It was another classic bit of walling with the name of the farm etched into a large stone set in near the main entrance to the farmyard, which is why I decided not to post a picture.
There is a lot more to 'Darren' than meets the
eye. He has many talents and interests. Apart from being a first class waller he is a
farmer, a horse driving man and musical entertainer to mention but three. He is probably the most infectiously happy person I know.
'Darren' driving one of his immaculate and classic horse drawn vehicles.
So if you get held up behind a fine turnout around this area, be patient, it might just be
'Darren'. I suspect that very soon he will be taking people on scenic trips around our lovely Holme Valley countryside.
Having just come across Darren recently, more pics.
Cold, with a sneaky wind on this corner, but at least some dry moments in this exposed spot.
