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Chair restoration and tree planting at the Estate

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We have recently had the three cushioned chairs in the Outer Entrance Hall of the Estate repaired. We had also been searching for someone who has the traditional skills to mend both the rattan seated and backed chair in there too. John Smith from Ludford turned out to be our man when the chair was taken to him for inspection. He learned these skills from a lady who traded opposite him in the antiques centre on Aswell Street in Louth and. Following his retirement from gardening, he concentrates on this much more, as well as his work as Duty Manager at the Antiques centre on weekends. People from London tend to bring furniture to him due to his reputation in this craft. He is accomplished at rattan repairs, and his prices are not as hefty as the ones in the capital.

The photographs showed the damaged chair and John will calculate the cost of the restoration by counting the holes through which the rattan is threaded. We are looking forward to having the chair back in a few weeks’ time. He will do both the seat which is badly damaged and also the back, due to it starting to show signs of fraying. Doing both will also mean there is no colour difference in the straws.

Chair Restoration

Up at the Rectory, the kitchen is nearing completion and the ground floor floorboards are being sanded and stained.

 

 

Doors

The tree planting across the estate is an ambitious conservation project with approximately 12,000 trees going in around the park and in other areas. We have built a compound to house the necessary machinery and our beautiful rural outlook is currently home to heavy-duty vehicles – some for planting and also some for cutting back diseased trees.

Cutting Down Trees

Fencing is going in as well to protect the young whips from rabbits and protection is also being considered for when the cattle are back in the Park.

The cattle return in April and most of the calves are now born. Our Herdsman, John Crutchley, believes there will still be a few stragglers who will actually be born after the cattle leave their winter crews and back in the parkland.

Bev Gormley from Lincolnshire Heritage came over with Layers of History Volunteer, Jacqui Scott Combes recently. Jacqui has been visiting our 103-year-old former housemaid, Kath Brown over the last few months. Kath has loved having an extra visitor. She has been regaling her with stories of her time working at South Ormsby Hall and Jacqui has been using skills learned on the Layers of History Oral History course to tape these. She brought the 2 and half hours of recording along with her and it is now downloaded on to the Hall computer. The next job is to get a transcription of Kath’s stories and to edit the existing recordings to clarify and to avoid repetitions. We are very excited that Kath is coming to visit us for her 104thBirthday – she is really looking forward to visiting her old workplace which holds the happiest of memories for her.

The stargazing workshop which is scheduled for next week was inundated with applicants and Leanne Winn, our Events Manager, had to post on Facebook that it was sold out and that no more places were available. Let’s hope for a clear night so we have a good view of our galaxy!

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