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The Stone at Veddw, Copyright Anne Wareham

Our selection….

I’ve spent a lot of time researching our predecessors at the Veddw, especially the squatters.  They are the first actual inhabitants of our particular bit of land that we know about and were the builders of the turf and mud hut, which was followed by the cottage which we live in.

So I’ve been well focused on the past.

Then one day, with a sudden chill, I realised there will be a future here without us. There will be people here who think (like we do!) that they own it. Shocking. Humbling. So Charles and I discussed it and recognised that we should not just acknowledge the time before us, but also the time to come. So we planned on our very own megalith, henceforth known as The Stone.

It was an intimidating project and I’m amazed and grateful at the people who made it easy for us. So this series of posts will be a recognition of their contribution, and a record for us. And if you ever think of adding your very own sculpture to your garden you might even find the posts full of useful ideas.

So – we met Caitriona Cartwright, stone mason, at the Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair some years ago. You can also see her work at Hay Makers’ Gallery in Hay on Wye. Caitriona has worked for us before: she made the headstones in the Wild Garden:

Wild Garden, Veddw copyright Anne Wareham 26.08.13 042 s

Headstone commemorating local place names, by Caitriona.

We discovered that she knew a great source of potential and local stone, so, deciding to be brave about the costs (thank you, Veddw visitors..) we agreed to meet at the quarry. (Which is actually a farm, with a small quarry on the land, at Fforest Coalpit)

Arrival at the Quarry Copyright Anne Wareham 1498

There’s a quarry here somewhere..

We set off in search of a suitable stone. We clambered over piles of boulders and stones and finally settled on the first one we’d seen. After doing some testing for size.

Quarry 1. Veddw Copyright Anne Wareham

Sizing The Stone. No, he’s not asleep.

And the farmer kindly brought it down to the farmyard for us to inspect

Inspection of the Stone. Copyright Anne Wareham, Veddw.

Inspection

and price and delivery discussed

Negotiation Copyright Anne Wareham 1502 s Veddw

Charles is good at this sort of stuff

The farmer was as generous and helpful as you could possibly wish.

So a couple of weeks later, with the help of another local farmer The Stone was delivered

The Stone at Veddw, Copyright Anne Wareham

Handy sized trailer

and lifted off the trailer.

The Stone at Veddw, Copyright Anne Wareham

Gently…….

Fearsome beasts these vehicles!

The Stone at Veddw, Copyright Anne Wareham

It takes two…..

The Stone at Veddw, Copyright Anne Wareham

Here you are

A small presentation.

The Stone at Veddw, Copyright Anne Wareham

Slowly…..

And then there it sat while we pondered how we were going to shift it anywhere.

Arrival 4 SAM_2121 (2)

Hmmmmm….

More next week!

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