Hello!
Spring is bringing all manner of excitement around Sockburn; in preparation for the 2010 book it's becoming one of the most photographed houses (in the Neasham-Dinsdale-Girsby area!) and we've had some amazing volunteer work and some great visits. Thanks to everyone who continues to work on, and think about, and inspire us towards the great future Sockburn has ahead. In the meantime...
Notes from a sunny April weekend for Sockurn Hall Project
Sarah took the great new photos on Flickr, and writes : 24 & 25 April was the first full Working Weekend of 2010. We had the sort of weather that transforms Sockburn and makes the rain and mud of the winter seem like a distant memory!
The volunteers started arriving on site bright and early and as usual we had plenty of jobs lined up which they undertook with great gusto! The first was to get the old safe from its temporary resting place in the service corridor to the skip. This was some task but, as can be seen from the photographs, great thought planning and fantastic team work – job done!
Fallen wood was collected from All Saints' churchyard, to leave it looking tidy; more edging stones to the pathway on the river bank were uncovered – it was a beautiful day to be working near the river.
Trees overhanging buildings were cut back; great care was taken to make sure the fragile buildings were not threatened – ropes and pulleys and great team work came into play.
Another team did magnificent work in the exposed service corridor of the house and removed the remaining growth and vegetation from the surviving areas of roof – and eventually set up temporary drainage channels to get water to run away from the walls.
The dedicated Piggeries team have completed the main area – it’s all clear! They need congratulating on their persistence and determination to get to the end of the job.
We had a ‘first’ on Sunday – members of Durham Kayak Club who were paddling the River Tees from Neasham arranged a stop off at Sockburn for their picnic lunch - making a kind donation to the Sockburn Hall Project by way of a thank you. It was a lovely sight to see them paddling into view and we were very pleased that we were able to provide a stop off point for them and look forward to doing the same again. As you’ll see from the pictures the river bank team kept working throughout the excitement! What do you have to do to get Sockburn volunteers to stop working?
The enthusiasm, generosity, skills (combined and individual) of the Sockburn Hall Project volunteers is quite remarkable - we are enormously indebted to you all. Everyone brings something very special to the Project and we are delighted to see you, whether you come frequently or infrequently, it doesn’t matter - you are always welcome.
Don't forget, you can take a full look at the photos on Flickr, and catch up with fellow Sockburn Hall Project volunteers, enthusiasts and Sockburn news on Facebook.
Coming up: Sockburn 1910 & 2010 book launch & our summer Working Weekend
Keep an eye out for an invitation to our upcoming 'book launch' event on 4 July - and please remember to RSVP! The book launch, with talks (and cake!) will be held on the Sunday of our next Working Weekend: 3/4 July but make a note that activities will start early this time, on Friday 2 July, for those who can make it.
Looking forward to sharing Sockburn with you this summer.
Laura x
Laura, Sarah & the Sockburn Hall Project team
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