Onwards and Upwards, Literally!

It’s been another chilly week at Betley Court, and although the snow has thawed, it is nippy out. The first of our spring bulbs are starting to peek out of the frozen earth and it won’t be long before the first of the snowdrops put in an appearance. The precocious daffodil that beats all others was spotted in bud opposite Betley Court on Main Road again, like an old friend.

The precocious daffodil opposite Betley Court. Always the first out! Photo: Ladybird Su

Work in the gardens continues, for although we are in lockdown 3 in England, historic houses and gardens are permitted to carry on their maintenance work, provided Covid regulations are adhered to. It seems incredible that a virus that was first noticed 5500miles away is having such a profound effect on our little village in Staffordshire.  The very sad news that we have reached 100,000 UK deaths from Covid19 this January, accompanies the more hopeful news that vaccinations are being rolled out, and friends and neighbours in Betley have benefitted already.

Despite the cold weather, it is very busy around the gardens. Melvyn and Shane are working flat out to decorate the new visitors’ hub. Two coats of a specialist paint are required, and it is particularly stinky stuff to use (we used it on our garden office at home and can testify to its pongy-ness). The paint is special in that it stretches with the expansion and contraction of the building. This is a characteristic of log cabins, and any lesser paint would simply stretch, crack and fall off. Its starting to look really nice, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors.

The troublesome oak, centre farthest tree. Photo: Ladybird Su

Down by the potting shed, Dave Griffiths, our tree surgeon is taking down the oak tree that is growing up through the building itself. It’s a hazardous job, as we let the tree become quite large before tackling it. The job is complicated by the fact he is taking it down piece by piece so as not to drop anything on our neighbour’s garden buildings.

Spot the tree surgeon! Photo: Ladybird Su

Complicated looking winches and ropes carefully carry quite sizable chunks of oak safely to the ground. The smaller pieces are going through a chipper, and the others will be logs either for log burners or other projects in the garden.

The orange chipper, making quick work of the smaller branches. Photo: Ladybird Su

Of course, the big news at Betley Court this month is what’s happening in the main house. Anyone who has walked past Betley Court in the last few weeks will have noticed a huge change to its appearance. Our scaffolders from MD Scaffolding have been working their socks off in the cold, and the framework is reaching up and up into the sky - I recon six ‘floors’ of walkways now.

On the front facade, tucked behind Heras fencing, our new scaffolding is taking shape. ZigZag beams at the top, ready to be fitted in place over the void. Photo: Ladybird Su

They are putting beams across the void space of the house (I love the way they call them beams conjuring images of wood lengths – but these are super-strong yet light metal zig-zag lattices). These will carry the enormous roof sheets that will protect the house and our contractors. I joked with the boss, Mike that they need a calm day to put the sheeting on. Ever the professional, he confessed he consults not one but four weather apps on his phone before deciding to install the sheeting!

From the south side, the scaffolding now swamps Betley Court. Photos: Ladybird Su

Seeing the scaffold installation has really cheered me up. It’s a huge step forward, and a positive step, unlike the earlier demolition work we had to do. We’re learning so much about construction during this whole process. For instance, I was curious about huge water tanks dotted around the base of the scaffolding. I’ve since learned they are called IBCs or Intermediate Bulk Containers. At first, I thought they were handy containers for water around site -save our contractors a walk to the tap. However, although they are filled with water (about 1000ℓ) it is not for that use. The IBCs are used to weigh down the mighty scaffold structure, to prevent it taking off during one of our frequent ‘named weather events’. Clever stuff!

An IBC in situ, anchoring the bottom of the scaffold. Filled with water, they weigh a tonne. Photo: Ladybird Su

The other marvellous thing about a temporary roof is of course, when we get round to having builders on site, it creates an all-weather environment for them to work in. Should it become too cold for mortar to go off, heaters can be aimed at a specific section of wall to set it (something else I learned this week). I wonder what the builders who originally built Betley Court, and the subsequent builders that extended it would make of all the safety and weather measures we take these days? And yet there are tools, like pulleys and ladders, that builders going back to the construction of the pyramids and beyond would recognise, still employed by the building trade.

In another milestone, the security system for the site has ‘gone live’. Security officers have an eye on Betley Court 24/7, and infrared beams and CCTV guard all entrances and exits. Big Brother comes to Betley Court! From my point of view, as the gardener of the family, disappointingly this has not yet deterred the local rogue rabbit element who burrow in from the paddock to graze on the formal flower beds (I know they’re there! I see their footprint tracks in the thawing snow. Pesky herbivores!!!)

Evidence of herbivore intruders (how did they get in? Intruder fence, of course!) Photo: Ladybird Su

Two of our acrobatic scaffolders way up high. Photo:Ladybird Su

Affixing a rigid clamp. Note the safety line running from his harness to the guard rail. I get vertigo just looking at this! Photo: Ladybird Su

The scaffolders have another couple of weeks building the roof support. Then the roof sheeting materials will go on, followed by a protective mesh over the scaffolding. It really feels like Betley Court is being splinted and bandaged like a broken limb, so it can heal. Someone suggested we calculate how far all the scaffold poles in our impressive structure would reach if put end-to-end. I’m not sure I’m that interested in the answer. Certainly not enough to find out how many poles have been used in our scaffolding to do the maths!

All best wishes

Ladybird Su