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Shibden Park

Dry stone walling exhibit

This permanent and unique exhibit exemplifies all the skills of the Master Craftsman dry stone waller. The exhibit draws together the highest standards of dry stone walling and interprets the characteristics and the practical applications of the craft in the landscape.

The spectacular conical cairns mark the top entrance to the exhibit. From the lower entrance, marked by closely dressed square-topped pillars, the path leads past a series of stiles and lunky holes through walling which gradually takes on a more relaxed field wall character until it curves upwards to the top of the site.

Within the exhibit, a circular pinfold half buried in the hillside displays the skills involved in building in a tight curve, and a set of demonstration walls show the various stages in building in dry stone. Different styles of topstone reflect the styles found in urban and rural landscapes, including half rounded topstones and "cocks and hens".

The Otley and Yorkshire Dales Branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association are working with Calderdale Council on the second phase of this project, which will enclose the site, following the line of trees below Lister's Drive, and back down to the lower entrance. Included in this phase of the project are ten panels of dry stone wall which show the variety of structure which defines the Yorkshire landscape with features such as bee-boles, smoots, seats and gate surrounds. Each panel will be built of different indigenous Yorkshire stone.

This project will be carried out during 2010, with Master Craftsmen from the Otley and Yorkshire Dales Branch working alongside volunteers. We need your support to complete these ten new panels, if you are able to provide support either by a cash donation, materials or equipment please contact Shibden Estate email parks@calderdale.gov.uk, or Otley and Yorkshire Dales: Dry Stone Walling Association|.

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