Timeline

A check of the minutes taken at the Heath Residents Association meeting in September 2000 show that this was the earliest mention of restoring the Pinfold. There was illegal tipping taking place and it was felt that the council should be contacted with a view to removing tyres and other rubbish.

In spring of 2001 the pinfold had been cleared of the tyres and other rubbish by the local council and it was further cleared by the residents of all the smaller rubbish while the trees, grass, gorse and blackberry vines which in summer overgrows the area were still dormant from the winter period.

The project did not gain much momentum at this time and it wasn’t until later that residents volunteered to oversee the restoration and started looking at the Pinfold in more detail.

November 2001.

The pinfold was quite an overgrown area with quite substantial maple trees having grown around and within the pinfold walls.  The Countryside Service under the guidance of David Mee were contacted with a view to having the trees cut down and removed. 

April 2002.

No further news was reported to the residents at this meeting of the residents association.

February 2003.

Local residents with the onset of winter offered their support on a stone gathering working party on the 22^nd February to collect random stone strewn about the pinfold area; this was collected when the grass and gorse had died back for the winter and an initial clearing of the site took place, the tree stumps were also removed from the pinfold at this time.

Two piles of stone were collected, one in the centre of the Pinfold the other to the left of the gate posts.

At this time it was also decided to contact local stonemasons to obtain a price for the restoration of the Pinfold.

October 2003.

Work began in earnest to research various options to acquire external funding for the project and the Local Heritage Initiative was initially approached with positive feedback.

November 2003.

One quote had been obtained to restore the pinfold but a second was required for LHI purposes.

January 2004.

Still awaiting a second costing to restore the pinfold.

Between January and September research, permissions and other work required for the successful application to be made was undertaken.

September 2004.

A draught application was made to the Local Heritage Initiative which is a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund, Nationwide Building Society and The Countryside Agency to fund the restoration project.

November 2004.

Draught application submitted to LHI who required further information regarding certain aspects of the project.

January 2005.

A water colour painting had been obtained from a local resident depicting what the pinfold looked like in its prime.  This has been recorded digitally and with the existing archeology of the pinfold will form the basis of the restoration to restore the pinfold to its former glory.

A drawing of Heath Pinfold by the late Mr Stanley Morley.

April 2005.

Progress was still ongoing with the application.

May 2005.

Work started by Colin Daley to record the progress of the pinfold restoration and the creation of a web page to promulgate the project.

June 2005.

2^nd June 2005, approval of funding from LHI.  Negotiations with the stonemason Kim Naylor to formulate a timetable of restoration.

August 2005.

Site preparation in consultation with Kim Naylor to remove invasive vegetation and to make the site secure.

October 2005.

Mid October Work began formally on the project with local residents assisting Kim Naylor in conjunction with Colin Daley (Vice Chair Heath Residents Association) who was now steering the project.

The Pinfold just prior to the renovation taking place.

The renovation project was designed to incorporate a skill transfer with three weekends throughout the project allocated to this end.  These were well attended by local residents and additional assistance was given throughout the months by residents with a view to learning more about dry stone walling and to be more involved in the project.

Commemorative date Stone ordered.

November 2005.

The bulk of the renovation is complete with the pinfold restored to its original height and dimensions, however difficulty in sourcing appropriate coping stones to finish the project are encountered.  This is causing a delay in the landscaping and fencing of the pinfold.

The pinfold after initial landscaping is awaiting coping stones to finish the walls.

December 2005.

Coping stones sourced but poor weather and existing commitments on behalf of Kim Naylor are delaying completion.

February 2006.

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