The Somerset village of Stawell

Stawell is recorded in the Domesday Book. The name is thought to come from the Saxon words for 'Stoney Stream' or well and may allude to the pond at Ford Farm. Objects which lie in this water become encrusted with lime and the conditions are perfect for the creation of 'Tufa' a type of limestone which forms in close proximity to bodies of water with a high content of dissolved minerals. Tufa, a very light rock was used to make the vaults of Wells Cathedral. Mill Barn used to be part of Ford Farm and generated electricity to power the mill from that very stream and it too has some walls made from Tufa.



Friday, 25 November 2011

We're on mains water

Just in time before the weather got frosty!!
All the pipe has been put in a trench through to the caravan
under rubble and walls
which means our shower is hot and of course won't freeze!!

Tuesday, 15 November 2011

The next phase of fencing works

Now the cows have finished grazing the adjacent fields it was time to continue fencing our boundary. One of the conditions of the sale, we had to remove the existing post and wire fence and replace with a post and rail - which certainly changed the look - a lot smarter.
There was a bit of clearing to do before we started.
But we made light work of the existing fence - it was a lot easier taking it down than putting the new fence up that's for sure!!
After trying the tractor driven auger, which failed miserably, we had resort to the mini digger, for the loan of which we were grateful to the farmer, Paul.
Slowly, slowly we fought through the stoney ground and buried rubble and by the end of the weekend another section of fence was complete.
Both very, very thankful we didn't have to dig the holes by hand - we must be getting old or wise - one of the two!!