One of the highlights of a week's summer course on the eighteenth century landscape is getting to go out and walk around some gardens. But imagine our particular delight when we got to Rousham and found some men actually engaged in the fine old art of building a haha.
Like eighteenth century lords we happily loitered around at the top of the ditch while they mucked about dry-stone-wall stylie in the bottom. "I do the skilled bit, and I just let him do the filling," said the old chap in charge, gesturing somewhat rudely towards his less accomplished, resigned-looking accomplice.
They reckoned they could do about thirty yards in a week. Stowe has four miles of haha. You do the maths.
11 comments:
This is an episode of The Archers surley?
Isn't Nigel Pargitter beggaring around with his ha-ha?
Is it? That nigel, honest to god. My auntie loves the archers so much she got banned from the official archers internet discussion group so she had to start a breakaway forum.
Check this out anyway because the real nigel is actually on a pedalo at this very moment, pedalo-ing for depression. Whilst I admire this worthy cause I am a bit confused as to the suitability of the cause and money-raising activity.
http://www.thearchers.co.uk/archers/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=141&ItemID=3388&tabIndex=0
ummm, slightly slower than a mile a year?
Recall Monty Don doing a quick trip around Rousham for GW as his most fave spot, and also seeing it on CountryFile praised by John Craven as his favourite garden ever too. I haven't been, but its high on the list. Should go really, its not that far, my excuse is that Reading is in the way of getting there easily!( Hate the IDR)
I watched some kids who were careering around at full volume at Hinton Ampner last summer disappear off the haha there... thankfully no broken bones, but some very indignant parents wittering on about health and safety and there should be signs and a fence up. Shoot em I say!( The parents that is).
But I guess this was just renewing the stonework. I wonder how long it would take to make a completely new one?
Ha ha about Hinton Ampner. I know what you mean. They are a bit vertiginous though aren't they? I got that word off Victoria. Litigious vertiginousness.
Sounds like another Forth Bridge kinda job...
I didn't know people still made Ha-has. I just assumed it was one of those lost arts like flint knife making. Fascinating.
I couldn't agree more. I suppose I knew they might occasionally have to be a little bit fixed, but to see people actually making one was really exciting. I took a few photos in case I ever teach the course again, as I can see it might be quite a rare event to capture on camera.
(As a child we had these things called Observer Books where you got points for spotting certain activities or sights... I'm sure seeing men building a ha-ha is at least a 40 pointer....)
oops I mean I-Spy books
I think it would get you your letter from Big Chief I-Spy in one fell swoop.
Well here's the thing, I've this morning purchased an antique copy of I Spy in the Garden which should be arriving in the next few days, so then we can see! Hee hee. Or should i say ha ha?
Ooh ooh ooh - I wanna see!
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