A two-day hands-on workshop was offered by the DSWAC last year, involving the rebuilding of a section of historic dry laid wall at the Farm on the 'Kingsmere' estate, near Ottawa. This September students again learned basic elements of dry stone construction as they dismantled a 35 foot section of damaged wall and reconstructed a traditional free standing wall the way it would have looked originally, back in Mackenzie King's day.
This was a beginners two-day workshop and required no previous experience. During the weekend professional waller and DSWAC founder John Shaw-Rimmington explained the fundamentals of foundation, throughstones, batter, hearting and coping. Gourmet lunches were provided both days. No tools were required. This was a shine and rain event. ( Beautiful and sunny on Saturday and drizzle all day Sunday) Though this workshop was fairly labour intensive all the students said they thoroughly enjoyed it..
Eight students repaired another 35 feet of these historic walls originally built by Mackenzie King and proudly shown off to Winston Chuchill when he visited the Farm in 1929.
Sunday in the afternoon drizzle.
Before
After
The residence is so named because of its history as an old farmstead dating back to the 19th century. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King privately purchased the farmstead as part of his country estate at Kingsmere Lake.
When Prime Minister King died, he left the residence and grounds to the Government of Canada so that future Canadian officials could make use of the area. "The Farm" is now owned and operated by the National Capital Commission.
June 2009- Laurie Fagan of CBC radio interviews John Shaw-Rimmington about last year's successful walling workshop at Kingsmere Farm.
This CBC RADIO interview with John Shaw-Rimmington at Kingsmere Estate in Ottawa, can be heard by downloading it at their archived link of ..http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/media/audio/ontariotoday/15c.ram