Volunteers to create a 1,500 foot long salute to Howard

The Lancashire branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association attracted a big audience at last Sunday’s Saddleworth Show

An industrious team of volunteers have dedicated one of their drystone wall projects to the memory of one of their members.

The Lancashire branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association attracted a big audience at last Sunday’s Saddleworth Show when they showed off their skills at the showground on farmland in Greenfield.

But the team have dedicated the new handbuilt millstone grit wall as a tribute to Howard Lunn, who tragically died.

Overall, when completed, the wall will run more than 1,500 feet, at the height of four foot six inches.

On Sunday the team completed the first 12-foot long section using four tonne of stone in a project headed by Master Waller Carl Watson and National Chairman Paul Clayton.

Mr Clayton said: “Our volunteer members proceeded to build a wall off an eight foot gate post installed previously by farm manager Damian Russell.

“As part of the build a triangular stone was built into the wall as a tribute to waller Howard Lunn (pictured below), who had attended the show many times but who died in the early hours of Tuesday morning following a difficult operation.

“He joined the Association in October 1999 and mapped and recorded every wall repaired by the DSWA from the Warburton mast to all corners of Saddleworth.

"He will be sadly missed.”

At the show the team promoted their traditional-craft by building the start of the wall from the base up and chatting to interested visitors including offering training weekend courses and information.

Over 40 years, the 60-strong team have build walls spanning different locations in Saddleworth, including Ridgehill Farm, Diggle, Roundhill Farm and Larkhill Lane at Dobcross.

Mr Clayton added: "This is all voluntary and we believe in putting something back into Saddleworth that should last for 200 years.”

For more information, check out: www.lancashirebranchdswa.org.uk

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