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Volunteers finish 23-year flint wall restoration

Alex Pope
BBC News, Hertfordshire
Peter Finch A group of volunteers standing by a wall in a forest estate, two are sitting down the rest of standing up, they are all looking at the camera and smiling. They are in a forest area, with brown leaves on the ground foliage behind them. Peter Finch
Many of the former and current volunteers came together on the last day of repairs to celebrate their contribution

A team of about 30 "dedicated" volunteers have been praised by the National Trust for completing a 23-year project to repair a number of historical walls on an estate.

The helpers on the Ashridge Estate, close to Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, restored 700 metres (2,296ft) of flint walls alongside a bridge, which was originally built as part of a Capability Brown landscape.

The National Trust said it ends a "remarkable chapter", which saw the volunteers give up their time every Thursday over two decades.

Volunteer Ray Cox, who has started to help in 2005, said: "It's not just about preserving structures, it's about bringing Ashridge's past to life for future generations."

National Trust A bridge in a very bad state of repair, showing bricks missing, fallen from it and lying on the ground, bricks collapsing and shrubs around it.National Trust
In 2001 the Golden Valley Bridge on the Ashridge Estate was in disrepair
Jessica Eykel A large brick bridge, that has been repaired, showing bricks in place, and foliage all around it. Jessica Eykel
This year the 23-year project to restore the bridge was completed

Emily Smith, the countryside manager at the estate, said the project would not have been possible without the back-breaking work of the volunteers.

A team of volunteers led by Christopher Wallis first began restoring the Golden Valley Bridge, which dates back to the 1820s, when Ashridge House and the surrounding park were rebuilt in 2001.

It sits within land designed by renowned landscape architect, Capability Brown.

The National Trust believes flint was later added to the bridge by Brown's student and successor, Humphry Repton.

The project then grew and using historical maps and ground surveys, the volunteers uncovered the remnants of flint walls that once bordered the estate's carriage drives.

Peter Finch A man, with grey hair and a grey beard, placing bricks on a wall. He is bending over, has a dark coat on and dark trousers. Foliage, leaves and plastic sheeting is behind him. Peter Finch
The walls sit within the landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown

Mr Cox, who previously worked in the building industry, said it was an honour "to research and rebuild my local history".

"Seeing the walls take shape again has been extremely satisfying.

"The camaraderie among our team has made this journey unforgettable.

"The friendships we've built along the way are as enduring as the walls themselves."

The volunteers cleared vegetation and sourced flints from fallen walls, and with permission from neighbouring fields, reconstructed them stone by stone.

Tree stumps and overgrown laurel was carefully removed.

National Trust Four volunteers rebuilding a brick wall, in a forest area with trees, shrubs and a path. National Trust
A flint wall on the Ashbridge estate was repaired by volunteers

John Childs, who has volunteered with the project since 2016, said: "Restoring these walls has been a challenge, but is a testament to the dedication and passion of our team.

"It's a privilege to see the results of our hard work blend seamlessly into this historic landscape."

Ms Smith said the team should be proud of their achievements.

"These walls not only restore the estate's historic charm but also reconnect us to the way this land was once used."

"This sort of project simply wouldn't be possible without them," she added.

National Trust Flint walls on a carriage ride, that have been restored, showing materials left to the right, a pathway, with mud on it, and trees, leaves and foliage on either side. National Trust
The estate believes the flint walls lined the routes for carriages to follow

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