News

25 April 2018

DSWA 50th anniversary National Walling Competition

On 20th May 2018 the DSWA are holding a 50th anniversary national walling competition in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.

Bring the family and enjoy a free day of heritage crafts in the beautiful Cumbrian countryside. Watch craftsmen testing their skill in the dry stone walling competition. Enjoy countryside activities and traditional crafts including demonstrations by the National Hedgelaying Society, display of arts and crafts, cake competitions and children's games.

Competitions are open for anyone to enter - for details and entry form please see attachment. Deadline for entries - 6th May 2018

PDF icon DSWA walling competition - poster, PDF icon DSWA walling competition - schedule and entry form

14 April 2018

Gearstones Lodge project

28th April - 2nd May 2018

This is the fourth year of the charity build project at Gearstones Lodge outdoor activity centre (a charity near Ribblehead, North Yorkshire www.gearstones.com). The project this year involves building a completely new wall on the opposite side to last year's rebuild, running parallel to the neighbours fencing. Walled from one side. Stone of some 50 tons or more of limestone from the quarry at Horton in Ribblesdale.

Gearstones extend their usual hospitality of free accommodation and free meals throughout the day.  Attendees are welcome after 5pm on the Friday evening, unfortunately the Gearstones team will not be able to provide food for the evening.Day time we start at 9.30am, so arrive early and have breakfast if you wish. If you're only able attend for a day you are most welcome to stay for an evening meal or perhaps stay over and depart the following day.

If you wish to attend please fill in the attached form below and return by email or post to the address on the form

Microsoft Office document icon Gearstones Form 2018.doc

13 February 2018

Guild qualifications - reduced rates for 2018

The Guild is offering our Advanced and Master Waller certifications for a reduced fee throughout 2018. For more details on this, and our qualifications, click here

10 February 2018

New training course added to 2018 programme

Due to popular demand, we have added an additional training course to our 2018 programme. This additional course will be held at Cropper Fold Farm, Bingley on the weekend of 6-7 October

For more information on our training courses, visit this page or click this link to book your place online

17 December 2017

Autumn Newsletter 2017

Our autumn newsletter is now available to download via the link below

PDF icon Autumn newsletter 2017

13 September 2017

TCV dry stone walling handbook now available online

The TCV (formerly BTCV) handbook on dry stone walling is now available through an online subscription. The benefits of it being available through an online subscription include access to all the TCV handbooks, photos, videos and content that is continually updated. The information can be printed to take in to the field.

For more information visit the TCV Conservation Handbooks website - www.conservationhandbooks.com. If you are a Guild member, contact the secretary for details of discounted subscription to the handbooks

26 July 2017

New places added to Yate House training course 23/24 September

Due to increased demand, we have added additional places on our training course at Yate House this September (23rd-24th). These are available to book now via the website

26 April 2017

Gearstones Lodge project

This is the third year of our charity build project at Gearstones Lodge outdoor activity centre (a charity near Ribblehead, North Yorkshire www.gearstones.com). The project this year involves the taking down and rebuild of the old boundary wall adjacent to the Lodge. The wall is on sloping ground some 33m long connecting with the frontal 55m wall completed over the past two years.
 
Gearstones extend their usual hospitality of free accommodation and free meals throughout the day.  Attendees are welcome after 5pm on the Friday evening, unfortunately the Gearstones team will not be able to provide food for the evening.
 
Day time we start at 9.30am, so arrive early and have breakfast if you wish.
 
If you're only able attend for a day you are most welcome to stay for an evening meal or perhaps stay over and depart the following day.
 
If you wish to attend please fill in the attached form below and return by email or post to the address on the form
Microsoft Office document icon Gearstones registration form

15 April 2017

New training course dates coming soon

We are currently organising an additional training course weekend to meet the demand this year for training course places. Details will be published on the website shortly, or you can contact Graham Brown, course coordinator, for more details

07 March 2017

New for 2017: specialist walling courses

We are developing a programme of short, one day courses, with the aim of covering some of the more specialist techniques and skills, not covered in the basic weekend courses. The decision to develop these courses was taken in an effort to build the skills of Guild members. The courses can cover, for example the construction of arches, wall ends, stiles, steps, corners, pillars, as well as tackling such issues as walling on slopes.
 
The courses are only open to members of the Guild, who have done a basic weekend course, or who have 2 years plus experience of walling.  Each course will be led by a Guild Master Waller. The courses will be of interest to those who don't always have access to walls to practice, or established wallers looking to widen their range of skills.
 
The courses run over one day but may, where there is demand, be two consecutive days, each covering one of the types of topics mentioned above.  The cost is £30 per day, which is subsidised by the Guild, to allow for small groups of a maximum of four persons per day course. The programme is flexible, and is based on demand and availability of course leaders.  There are plans to run at least two or three day courses this season.  We will always try to ensure that dates suit participants, by agreeing them in advance.
 
If you would like more information, or to book a place, please contact Graham Brown, Course Coordinator

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