A new garden wall for the Owens Family

I had the pleasure of building this wall for our friends the Owens Family in their lovely garden.

If you would like a Les Young dry stone feature in your back garden then give me a call on +44 (0)7952 551025.

"Thank you Les - it's absolutely beautiful" Teresa Owens

Dry Stone Walling Course at Hebden Bridge May 2009

On this course we had Beginners, Improvers and a practice for Level 1 DSWA/Lantra examinations taking place. It was a great pleasure to welcome back past students and welcome new students to the beautiful (and very wet!) Colden Valley, who were wanting to learn the ancient craft of Dry Stone Walling.

All looked well on the Saturday morning as we walked up the hill from the accommodation after spending an hour learning all about H & S and the theory behind dry stone walling. As a precaution we had brought our shelter tent as the weather forecast wasn't too clever according to the BBC - and who argues with the BBC eh?!



Not long into stripping down the wall which the Beginners and Improvers were going to work on, the heavens opened and, just as it had done last August, it persisted it down in sharp bursts. But I'm very glad to say it didn't stop the walling - nor the banter!!



"Billy No Mates" Jayne drew the short straw and got started with her practice level 1 test on a section of wall (located at the top of the hill about 400m as the crow flys from where the lads were walling) which Helen had asked us to repair. I knew there wouldn't be enough stone to complete the repair but the gap was more than the 2.5 sq metres required for the level 1 test which was sufficient to give Jayne a taste of what is ahead when she takes her dry stone walling exams.



After a good soaking and slipping about in the mud it was all too soon time to pack in for the day and descend into Hebden Bridge for some fantastic beers and a GREAT meal at Theo's Greek Cypriot Restaurant. (We'd had a stunning Turkish meal at the Olive Branch the night before so honours even as far as we were concerned!!)

Day two started a little better but deteriorated as the day worse on. As before it didn't dampen our spirits (even when one of the tent poles snapped in the wind!) and the walls started to rise at a rapid rate.

At lunchtime Steve serenaded us with his version of one of my favourite Mississippi John Hurt songs, "Ain't Nobodys Business", and very good it was too!



Thanks to everyone for a great course and not letting the weather get to you!

Here are some photo's and videos of the course:

Beginners Course from L to R: Steve, Steve, Ray and Ian

Improvers Course: Louis and Neil

Level 1 test practice from the centre: Jayne

A big thank you to Helen and Phil for the use of their land, walls and facilities (get well soon Helen!). Thank you to John and Anne Greenacre of Riverdene House, Colden for their immaculate accommodation and even better breakfasts; to the New Delight, Fox and Goose and the many other pubs in Hebden Bridge who kept our fluid levels up (this is starting to sound like an Oscar acceptance speech!); to the Olive Branch and Theo's for their superb cuisine and to Bary Heeley for his assistance in instructing a thoroughly nice group of people.

Hadrian's Dry Stone Walling Course in Nabs Wood April 2009

For it being April the weather was pretty kind to us with only a fierce north wind to contend with.

There were Beginners and Improvers on the course which made it a busy weekend for the instructors.

Here's what happened -




If you would like to attend a dry stone walling course or require dry stone walls built please visit http://www.hadriansdrystonewalls.co.uk/ or call +44-752-551025.

Putting in the plaques for our 2008 courses at Nabs Wood

Nabs Wood was the scene of a tragic event in 1838 where 26 children drowned in the Huskar Pit Disaster. To keep the woods as a fitting memorial to the children our dry stone walling courses are rebuilding the walls around the wood.

After each years courses we place plaques in the wall with the names of those that have been on our courses, those who have very kindly donated stone and those who have helped out.

In March 2009 three past students kindly gave up their time to place 2008 plaques in the walls where the courses had built their part of the walls. This video shows the courses in progress and the plaques being paced in the walls.

I'd like to thank all past students, donators and helpers so very much for their efforts which have been brilliant and especially those students who returned and proudly placed their plaques in the walls.

Change of date for ColdenCourse In May

Due to circumstances beyond our control the May 09-10th Course at Colden will now take place on May 16th and 17th. Sorry for any inconvienience.

Hadrian's Dry Stone Walls On Tour - Scotland v Italy Feb09

We have visited Rome several times to watch the Italy v Scotland game which has always been a terrific occasion with the Italian supporters being wonderful to us. Our friend Massimo helps us get our tickets for the game so we were delighted when he said he would come over for the Scotland v Italy game at Murrayfield. It would be Massimo's first rugby international, him being a very keen football supporter.

I put together this compilation of a great weekend. What a boost the Scottish economy got that weekend!!

Thanks to my friends for making this so good, to Massimo for coming over and plunging into the unknown, to the Italian supporters we met and had several drinks with, La Maison Bleue for a terrific mail, Premier Inns for a great stay and the Bow Bar - my favorite pub.

Dry Stone Walling around a newly built house

First Dry Stone Walling Course of 2009 and Placing Of Plaques

Just in case you've forgotten, the first dry stone walling course of 2009 takes place on 7-8th March at Nabs Wood, Silkstone Common, South Yorkshire. Due to a cancellation there's a place available on the course. Please go to the web site to apply.

In addition we'll be placing the plaques in the walls we built last year. The plaques have the names of those who have built the walls or helped with stone donations. We have past students coming along on Saturday afternoon to build the plaques into the walls and then go to the Station Inn for a pint or two of landlord Mark Greys finest ale.

We'll also be going to the Chilli Lodge for a curry. It's recently been refurbished and they've also launched a new menu. It had a great menu before but the new one is even better and the dishes are superb. If you want to join us let me know by 6th March so I can forewarn Abdul and his staff - 07952 551025.