The weather in January is too cold for setting stones in mortar, and in any case the remaining sections of the coping stones cannot yet be completed because of the two large tree roots. Sir Edward has promised to have them cut back for us.
There is still plenty to be done of course. A reinforced hose is sunk into a trench leading to
the fountain from the water butt at the garages.
With luck the winter rains will gradually fill up the fountain. Once it is full the summer rain should replace water lost through evaporation. It is guesswork really how much will be needed. I notice on the 1926 o/s map that there was a wind pump next to the eastern end of the lake. I wonder if this not only filled the lake but also provided the pressure for the fountain?
The capping stones that used to top the pillars along the brick walls that surrounded the gardens
can be found discarded around the area. They have clearly been removed, possibly to get at the bricks, as most of the pillars are much shorter than they were originally. I am collecting them to be able to re-cap the pillars at a later date. Each cap had two stones a larger one like that on the right, and a smaller one on top like those on the left. Be careful if you try to move them - they are very heavy!
One advantage of working in the winter is that the nettles do not fight back. There used to be a wide gravel walk along the western edge from the terrace walk by West Hall towards the lake. I have cleared as much nettle root as possible from this walk. Experience from last year suggests that once the main roots are removed there is much less problem keeping the paths clear in Summer.
The snowdrops are pushing up - a reminder that Spring is round the corner. I will be back twice in March to see what else is growing.
