Rob Vardigans
The Ha Ha Restored
Wymondham Abbey with the restored Ha Ha wall
Copyright © Robert Vardigans 2009
In recent years the Ha Ha was in a sorry state with the ditch overgrown and the wall beggining to crumble in places. The Charity Trustees took the generous decison to fund repair of the Ha Ha as their contribution to the Abbey's 900th anniversary celebrations.
A Ha Ha is defined as "a boundary to a garden, pleasure ground or park of such a kind as not to interrupt the view from within" it's name deriving from the expression of surprise at meeting the obstacle.
When standing from the Abbey side looking over the meadow the Ha Ha is invisable and all you can see is a continuation of green meadow.
The wall stretches over 250 metres in length and total cost of renervation was in excess of £55,000
Work started early last year, English Heriatge provided an initial grant of £1,500 towards the clearance costs, with further clearance of the ditch undertaken by Norfolk Probation's Unpaid Community Work Unit. Work on the wall was overseen by Architect Neil Birdsall and completed by John Allen Masonry Ltd. of Briston, whose specilaist craftsmen brought in large quantity of flints fixed in place with traditional Norfolk limestone mortar.
Broadland Horticultural of Carleton Forehoe will now manage the meadow to eradicate nettles and thistles and maintain the reed bed towards the river as a natural wildlife habitat. The meadows are regsitered with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust as a County Wildlife Site and the earthworks are registered as a Norfolk Monuments Management Project with the Abbey being a Grade I listed building and ancient monument.
On 20th September 2009 a short service of blessing took place in the meadow to mark completion of the project and to express thanks to everyone involved in the restoration.
The Ha Ha Restored
Wymondham Abbey with the restored Ha Ha wall
Copyright © Robert Vardigans 2009
In recent years the Ha Ha was in a sorry state with the ditch overgrown and the wall beggining to crumble in places. The Charity Trustees took the generous decison to fund repair of the Ha Ha as their contribution to the Abbey's 900th anniversary celebrations.
A Ha Ha is defined as "a boundary to a garden, pleasure ground or park of such a kind as not to interrupt the view from within" it's name deriving from the expression of surprise at meeting the obstacle.
When standing from the Abbey side looking over the meadow the Ha Ha is invisable and all you can see is a continuation of green meadow.
The wall stretches over 250 metres in length and total cost of renervation was in excess of £55,000
Work started early last year, English Heriatge provided an initial grant of £1,500 towards the clearance costs, with further clearance of the ditch undertaken by Norfolk Probation's Unpaid Community Work Unit. Work on the wall was overseen by Architect Neil Birdsall and completed by John Allen Masonry Ltd. of Briston, whose specilaist craftsmen brought in large quantity of flints fixed in place with traditional Norfolk limestone mortar.
Broadland Horticultural of Carleton Forehoe will now manage the meadow to eradicate nettles and thistles and maintain the reed bed towards the river as a natural wildlife habitat. The meadows are regsitered with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust as a County Wildlife Site and the earthworks are registered as a Norfolk Monuments Management Project with the Abbey being a Grade I listed building and ancient monument.
On 20th September 2009 a short service of blessing took place in the meadow to mark completion of the project and to express thanks to everyone involved in the restoration.