The Fonthill Estate

Results of the Charity Clay Shoot & Working Fun Gundog Tests

Fonthill — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:13:02 +0000

The Fonthill Charity Clay Shoot and Working Fun Gundog Test and scurries was held at Fonthill Park, Tisbury on Sunday 21st April. Our thanks go to Lord Margadale and Skinners Dog Food who sponsored the Gundog Tests and scurries, and to all other sponsors who so generously supported the event. We had a fantastic day weather wise and attracted crowds of people, and raised the magnificent sum of £8,217.87 in aid of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and All Saints Church, Fonthill Bishop. The Gun Dog Tests and Scurry were very well supported and much enjoyed by all who took part.

CLAYSHOOT

Top Gun – B Jewel, 2nd – P Dennett,

Keeper - G Winter, Lady Gun - S Denning, Junior - J Ayrton,

Fonthill Beater/Picker-up – A Bundy

GUN DOG TEST

Open 1st – Keith Broomfield, 2nd - Margaret Allen,

3rd – Judy Rainey, 4th – Zena Churchward.

Novice 1st – Elizabeth Pelham, 2nd – Margaret Allen,

3rd – M. Fenton, 4th- Cliff Davis.

Two wins from two starts for Banoffee

Fonthill — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:15:46 +0000

Banoffee, part owned by Fonthill Stud and ridden by Kieron Fallon, comes from last to first to win the 2103 Cheshire Oaks.

Visit RacingUK.com to see Banoffee in action.

The Tithe Barn – Works in progress

Fonthill — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:07:49 +0000

Works to the Tithe Barn started with site set up and scaffolding works which allowed the thatchers to strip the thatch from the northern section of roof. With the scaffolding in place both internally and externally and the thatch removed, works on the roof structure timbers could commence. Clearing out of debris was undertaken to the first three trusses and the process of closely inspecting the timbers started by the contractor, contract administrator and structural engineer. The inspections allow the extent of decay or damage to the existing timbers to be fully and carefully assessed.

The structural implications of any damage is considered and this informs the decisions on where repairs are required and what type of repairs are most suitable in each location. A number of repairs including timber replacement, repairs with timber and repairs with steelwork are to be used as appropriate to each location depending on structural requirements and visual impact. Materials for the repairs are also considered at this stage, with most repairs currently being in either oak or stainless steel due to their significant life spans. Forming of templates for agreed steel repairs are running alongside the inspection/decision process .

Timber “mock ups” of the repair are made so that the new steelwork can be formed to the exact shape of the often bowed or curved old timbers. This allows as much as possible of the sound historic timber, which gives the barn much of its character, to be retained. Calculations for lifting equipment are also in progress to ensure the new materials, which are often of a considerable size and weight, can be lifted into place efficiently and safely. Externally initial raking out of failing mortar to the stonework of the walls is in progress. Samples of replacement mortars are being prepared and agreed to meet conditions of the Scheduled Monument Consent for the works. Over the next few weeks the first steelwork will be fabricated and delivered to site and timber, previously cut by the Estate, will be prepared. The roof structure repairs will then start in earnest.

Filly Foal by Sakhee’s Secret out of Yonder born 20th April 2013

Fonthill — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:48:16 +0000

Annual Dog Show Sunday 2nd June 2013

Fonthill — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 11:19:08 +0000

The annual Dog Show in aid of South & West Wilts Hunt is being held in Fonthill Park on Sunday 2nd June 2013 from 12 noon. All classes £1 – entries on the field. Big Plant Sale plus BBQ, Teas, Food Produce and lots of stalls. For more details please contact 01747 820244/07983 728287 or to view the programme of events for the day please visit the South & West Wilts website.

Fonthill Estate welcomes Nectar Imports…… “A Refreshingly Different Drinks Supplier”

Fonthill — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:07:06 +0000

Fonthill Estate has just completed a new warehouse and distribution facility for the fast growing company, Nectar who moved in this week. Nectar is an independent company supplying a complete drinks portfolio from household names to quirky innovative brands. For further information please visit their website www.nectar.net

Splendens Lodges

Fonthill — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:17:01 +0000

Fonthill Estate has just completed building two Lodges in the park for The Beckford Arms.

We are very proud and think The Beckford Arms have made them into a very comfortable and original place to stay.

For further information and booking, please visit The Beckford Arms website.

Charity Clayshoot & Fun Gundog Test

Fonthill — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:30:15 +0000

Gun dog trial

On Sunday 21st April 2013 a Charity Gundog Working Test and Scurries in conjunction with a 40 Bird Sporting Charity Clayshoot are being held in Fonthill Park in aid of All Saints Church Fonthill Bishop and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The day will start at 10am with last entries being at 2.30pm. Only cash can be taken on the day. £25 for 1st round of clays. For the clayshooting there will be top prizes for the following categories: Top Gun, Keeper, Beater/Picker up, Lady & Junior. (Fibre Wads only please!) All enquiries to Sharon Lewis 01747 820 448 or Beth Payne 07717 302 069.

National Garden Scheme opening at Fonthill House

Fonthill — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:38:30 +0000

We would like to thank the very brave and noble 100 or so people who came to the National Garden Scheme opening at Fonthill House on March 24th. It was very cold and the daffodils were suffering as much as the rest of us. All the gardeners had worked very hard to get the garden looking so neat and everyone who helped with tea was amazed that so many people had sandwiches and cups of tea etcetera. Most years we are keeping our fingers crossed because the daffodils are nearly over by this weekend in March!

Restoration of the Tithe Barn

Fonthill — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 07:48:33 +0000

The Tithe Barn probably dates from the 15^th Century and is reputed to be the largest, though not the longest barn in England.

From the 18^thcentury to 1971 the type of thatching used on the barn was straw, of a type known today as ‘longstraw’. This was a type of thatch used throughout Wiltshire and was distinct from combed straw, which was employed further southwest, particularly in Devon.

In 1970 the estate for the first time, was looking for a change of thatch type either to combed straw or to water reed. The firm chosen was Norfolk Reed Thatchers of Loudwater near Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, who priced up the work in 1971, estimating £7,225. This was to be a total stripping and re-thatch in water reed with a sedge ridge, the roof completely wire-netted against bird damage. The fact the water reed is a longer material than straw meant the addition of a tilting fillet on the eaves and verges, to put the water reed under tension.

The change from a local product to Norfolk reed was a common pattern after the war. There were a number of reasons for it. Longstraw thatchers in both Hampshire and Wiltshire were considered to use a relatively thin thatch, only 5-8 inches thick, compared with a depth of 15 inches on other places. The thickness of the overcoat and the regularity with which it consequently might need replacing was not very important when both straw and thatchers were easily available and the straw, if home-grown, was free.

After the war, there were attempts, led by the Rural Industries Bureau, a government agency with a special interest in thatching, to turn thatch into more of a ‘modern’ building material that could stand comparison with slate or tiles.

This meant that issues like longevity and actual cost mattered in ways that had not before the war. In this context, Norfolk reed became increasingly attractive to property owners as a thatch. It had a good reputation for longevity, was less dependent than straw for quality on good and bad seasons and had a long history of marketing and middle-men which gave it more of a modern feel to it than the inescapably agricultural methods of producing straw for thatching.

Wiltshire County Council played a part in encouraging the change to water reed, sending two of its local thatchers to attend courses on water reed thatching in the 1960s and requiring Norfolk reed to be used when housing improvement grants were given on thatched houses.