| Author |
Stoneraising |
TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
 OFF-Line
|  Posted 26-10-2004 at 22:52
As some of you may know, I have recently bought a 6 foot tall, threequarter ton, Cornish Granite megalith off eBay. Hopefully this will be arriving at Beeracres on Friday sometime.
So on Sunday afternoon, I am intending to have a little do in order to raise the stone upright, and to celebrate the event.
If anyone is in the area of South Gloucestershire / North Bristol on Sunday afternoon and would like to help then let me know ! I'll be getting some beer in.
And if anyone has any suggestions as to what I should be doing to celebrate the raising of the Beeracres Stone, let me know also !
Hopefully I'll get some photos of the event and post any good ones here.  
 Profile
 Reply
|
ocifant
Joined:
13-10-2002
Messages: 186
from London
OFF-Line
|  Posted 27-10-2004 at 10:24
Have you considered contacting the Stonehengineers to help you out with the raising?
Profile
Reply
|
sem
Joined:
12-11-2003
Messages: 1710
from Bridgend,S.Wales
OFF-Line
| Posted 28-10-2004 at 21:25
Good luck Captain,the Captain.
I sent you a message yesterday and would love to be there.Please let us all know where Beeracres is and the "programme of events."
Thanks
Sem
PS How much were you charged in P&P?
Profile
Reply
|
Thorgrim
Joined:
25-06-2003
Messages: 794
OFF-Line
| Posted 28-10-2004 at 22:15
I can't make this weekend, Capt'n, but I am often in the South Glos/Bristol area so may call some time for a look. Hope it goes well and the sacrifice isn't too messy
Profile
Reply
|
templar
Joined:
20-07-2004
Messages: 31
from Cardiff
OFF-Line
| Posted 29-10-2004 at 09:32
Sadly, can't play this weekend. Good luck with the "raising" and, in the words of Steve Wright in the afternoon c.1992 "Don't get crushed or mashed"
Profile
Reply
|
TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
OFF-Line
|  Posted 29-10-2004 at 18:39
Beeracres Stone Latest update…..
Thanks for your kind words, and sorry I didnt reply sooner Sem, I was waiting for further happenings.
At about 3:30 Friday afternoon a chap turned up in a large lorry, which he was unable to reverse up the drive (a small lorry had been specified). So, we thought we’d best get the stone off and up the drive as best as possible using the pallet truck, boards and lots of brute force.
Cutting a long story short, it proved nigh on impossible. Just getting it off the lorry was difficult enough. Lots of cussing and swearing later, after about an hour of struggle, the pallet broke under the weight, about halfway up the drive, and the driver said he shouldn’t be doing this, his boss would do his nut, he had another pick up etc etc. So all we could do was try and roll the stone off the remains of the pallet to the side of the driveway, hoping there was enough room for me to get the car by. I thanked the driver for his help, and let him get on.
Did I say it was raining all this time ?
So. I dunno what on Earth to do now, maybe whats needed is someone with a digger and lifting gear.
Think I need professional help !!!!
I thought it all sounded too easy when the plans were made up - But the vital thing that went wrong is that it came on a big lorry, not the specified small one.
So I guess the stoneraising is off for the while ! 
Profile
Reply
|
Thorgrim
Joined:
25-06-2003
Messages: 794
OFF-Line
| Posted 29-10-2004 at 19:19
How awful! But it does make you realise just how heavy stone is. When we see Avebury, Stonehenge and all the others - we sort of accept that logs and levers and ramps were used and pay lip service that stones are heavy, but that's all. When you try to move one yourself - its a different matter altogether. You then know how heavy - HEAVY really is! I nearly broke my back manipulating stone I ordered for carving a few years back! Its no joke, but when its in place Cap - it will all be worth while. If you use levers beware of slippage and crushed feet!!!
Profile
Reply
|
ocifant
Joined:
13-10-2002
Messages: 186
from London
OFF-Line
| Posted 29-10-2004 at 20:31
I can only repeat, take a look at the Stonehengineers' site...
Profile
Reply
|
sem
Joined:
12-11-2003
Messages: 1710
from Bridgend,S.Wales
OFF-Line
| Posted 29-10-2004 at 21:02
Never mind.The sodden state of the ground at the moment would make it very difficult and probably dangerous.Plus,I start a course of antibiotics on Sunday which means I couldn't take advantage of the free beer.
Please keep us informed of the date of erection,it seems quite a few people are interested.
Best wishes.
Profile
Reply
|
TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
OFF-Line
| Posted 29-10-2004 at 21:27
I did look at the stonehengineers site, and it makes a lot of sense. Thing is, it (and all other non mechanical methods) will need a lot more than two chaps. Hopefully a few friends will still pop round sunday afternoon, and we'll give it a go.
Now, where do I find a couple of dozen fenceposts !!!
Picture here (I hope) - I've not done this before. http://beeracres.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/page7.html
Profile
Reply
|
kelpie
Joined:
15-02-2001
Messages: 284
from Pickering, North Yorks
OFF-Line
| Posted 30-10-2004 at 11:28
I erected a stone as a water feature recently. It was around half the size of yours and took four of us with much swearing to move it. You'll need quite a lot of help to shift yours. Good luck and keep us posted.
Profile
Reply
|
TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
OFF-Line
|  Posted 30-10-2004 at 11:37
I am just thankful its not as big as this one !!!
http://megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=My_eGallery&file=index&do=showpic&pid=10347&orderby=dateD 
Profile
Reply
|
ocifant
Joined:
13-10-2002
Messages: 186
from London
OFF-Line
| Posted 30-10-2004 at 14:15
Looking at your photo, and from I know about the Stonehengineers, it really shouldn't take more than 4-6 people to sort that out for you - given the correct timber of course
Profile
Reply
|
TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
OFF-Line
|  Posted 03-11-2004 at 01:39
Well, after a nightmare Friday afternoon, things didnt turn out so bad after all. Several friends still turned up Sunday afternoon anyway (cos the beer and cakes were still to be consumed), armed with ropes, poles and logs. Desite being unable to hire a winch or anything, once we set about it with about 8 willing blokes and lots of willpower, the stone was moved off the driveway and across the lawn into position fairly easily.
Then a hole was dug, and the stone was raised without too much trouble at all. Its now all packed in, with daffodill bulbs planted around it, and it seems rock solid.
A few words were said, a champagne toast was made, and the stone had a pint of beer for itself, before the newly named Beeracres Stone (alt. name The Old Man of Kendleshire) got itself dressed up into best party garb, with fairy lights, holly and ivy, various other celebrations were had, including a birthday cake for the stone.
I have to say, I think its wonderful, and well worth all the effort. Got some nice pictures too, which I must find a decent way of making available.
Profile
Reply
|
creators
Joined:
16-06-2004
Messages: 31
from Bath
OFF-Line
| Posted 17-11-2004 at 22:31
Wonderful! I've just seen this and it's a heartwarming tale of grit, guts and swearing. So glad you got it raised and am looking forward to the pictures of The Beeracres Stone. It can consider itself very fortunate not to have been named the Fardlingtiddlesquit Stone. 
Profile
Reply
|
TheCaptain
Joined:
30-10-2003
Messages: 1483
from near Bristol
OFF-Line
| Posted 18-11-2004 at 00:23
The pictures are now here. I have created a Beeracres Stone site on the portal, and included several pictures. Search for Beeracres and it will find it for you. Or else use the following page
http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10537
sorrry, dont know how to do them clever links.
Profile
Reply
|
Main News