Every stone has a tale to tell

I HAVE had a change of scenery recently as I have started working on the dry stone wall surrounding Fewston reservoir in the Washburn Valley on behalf of Yorkshire Water. I enjoy the bleakness of the moors on my own patch but a fresh workplace is rather like going on holiday. The temperature is a couple of degrees higher and the wind does not blow quite so hard. The accents of the passers-by are more refined and the dogs wear coats. The trees have changed to their winter wardrobe and together with the sky and the water I sometimes think that I have the best office in the country – at least on the good days. My neighbours at work range from stoats and trout to herons and Canada geese.

On top of all this, the quality of the stone is impressive – well-dressed punched face rectangular blocks with half round tops. The cost of replacing the topstones alone would be about 250,000. Although there are examples of excellent masonry work in the form of the by-wash and dam wall, I thought the use of material of this quality in the construction of a boundary wall was a bit excessive even for the opulent Victorians. When I observed that some of the stone had bits of old lime mortar attached in places I was convinced that it has had a previous existence in a building. My hunch was correct.

The path around the reservoir is well-used and I barely have five minutes to myself before someone comes along. Many show an interest in how the wall is constructed and some venture opinions as to how it has collapsed. Two possible explanations were deer jumping over from the woods and humans climbing in the opposite direction, to relieve themselves. In some stretches, usually at the tops of banks, some of the topstones are missing. A scan of the area reveals these stones lying at the bottom of the slope either next to, or in, the reservoir. It suggests that human hands (larger rather than smaller) have derived pleasure from watching the stones roll down the hill. Once the binding effect of the topstones is lost the wall becomes dilapidated and collapses over time.

Amongst the problems is the abundant amount of brambles, bracken, moss and general undergrowth which has colonised the ground around the gap and can take some time to clear. Another problem is a shortage of stone. It is reasonable to think that when a wall disintegrates all the stone will be at hand for the rebuild. But usually I find that about 10 per cent extra stone is required.

Regular maintenance is by far the cheaper option. If neglected for too long and the weather gets a grip, then the extent of the gaps exceeds the length of the standing wall. It becomes a massively expensive job as small gaps can quickly deteriorate into big ones. We are lucky in Yorkshire to have some of the finest countryside in the country and I am glad to be able to say that my daily toil helps to maintain it.

Blood, water and hard work

Work on the reservoir was started by the Leeds Waterworks Company in 1874 and took five years. Two mills, Fewston and West House, were demolished to make way and the stone was used in the construction of the perimeter wall, nearly four miles long. West House was a flax spinning mill employing 400-500 children from workhouses and charitable institutions in cities. A reservoir builder dismissed for violent conduct, later committed suicide with a carving knife after attempting to murder his wife. It is hard to imagine such a tragedy in so beautiful a place.

CW 27/11/10