Dovecote update

Work continues on the Dovecote, now attention is being given to the back, which gets the same treatment - although in an even worse state of repair - with a new window needed - but that's no problem...

A window soon made and installed

and stonework all replaced - as good as new.

And now the real work begins

As we wait for the confirmation of the various permissions there is plenty for us to be getting on with. Well I say that like the Royal We - but it is what Melv does each day - unless he is doing favours for other people that we can then call in when we need a hand - as for me I help at the weekend and on days off.

Someone asked me recently does Melv have a plan - well I think so - he just seems to know, it is what he does. He has been itching to get started on one of our favourite bits - the Dovecote - so start we did.
As with much of the stone work the dovecote it is in need of a bit of TLC and repair - which can always look a bit drastic - but again omelette and eggs springs to mind as Melv started to take part of the back corner down. It was soon rebuilt, and much stronger - he had found evidence of an old drain underneath that had caused it to sink.




Next it was a bit of attention to the front, to replace the sleeper above the door with an oak beam, rebuild the top left hand section and repair one of the entrances.

When we dismantled the entrance to Melv's delight he found it was an old staddle stone - so there was an easy solution - turn it round.

How magic is that...

And of course it fits...

As good as new.

Once all the weak points were stable it was time for raking out the joints, to replace the old mortar with new and put in strengthen bars where they are needed.

It is a dusty job and one that takes a while, but extremely satisfying once its done.

Doesn't it look smart.

But there were several holes and loose bits - Melv soon sorted those



This is followed by re-pointing using lime - which is a challenge in its own right - more on that later.

Goodbye Portaloo

With the mornings getting cooler and the evenings darker having a flushing toilet in the caravan was moving higher up the priority list. But with no mains drainage or water supply it was always going to be a challenge and one we were never going to sort prior to moving in.

We were very lucky that the farmer gave us permission to tap into his water supply temporarily, so at least we were half way there. For the installation of the septic tank we were waiting on permission from the Environment Agency, so there was little we could do other than wait...

Checking the post box religiously finally brought the piece of paper we needed and work began. For a large property the pipe work was going to involve nearly 50m of pipe.

But we had an added complication that the adjacent fields are a county wildlife site and so we had to be a certain distance away - we measured it out carefully.



With the help of Melv's friend Nigel, who has put in more septic tanks than we have had hot dinners - progress was fast.



The saying you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs comes to mind - but he knew what he was doing.


And it soon started to take shape...

And after just two days from start to finish, the portaloo was off hired and I got back from work to find a flushing toilet inside - pure luxury!

Our first task

This was a nice little fencing job, but with 170ms to complete we were very glad of the use of the farmer's kit, otherwise I think we might still have been there...

Bit by bit we made progress



And after several weekends, it did look smart, but we were very glad to put the last post in the ground. It was good to deliniate our boundary in what is a very open landscape and we are now looking forward to getting the hedge planted alongside.

So what is Mill Barn like?

Well there is lots of it and plenty to keep us busy:

With huge potential:

It is set in an amazing open landscape with massive skies:

It is quiet and these are the only neighbours:

What an opportunity...

Where does the time go?!!

Its hard to believe that we moved to Mill Barn Stawell over 2 months ago now, looking back it wasn't the easiest of moves - but we did it. The barns although not in a bad state of repair are not habitable, and they have had very little done to them since they were working barns. There was no running water, drainage, but we did have electricity and there was a telephone cable.

There was loads to do - but somehow in the two weeks between exchanging and completing on the sale we acquired a caravan, got water, electric and temporary drainage and moved our stuff.

The added complication was that the caravan only cost us £100 and it was 34 foot long - so why was this complicated - well at that length the challenge was to negotiate the narrow country roads and the village of Stawell and for £100 it was in a bad state of repair - but hey we always like a challenge.

With a bit of elbow grease and some very sticky flashband it was soon patched up.

Next the paint brushes and the tins of bright cheerful paint came out - we were going yellow inside!

Somehow we did it - well almost - the shower and toilet facilities were a little limited - but we managed - hey the sun was shinning and there was no one about!!