Walling lessons at Castle Hill provide jobs hope

HUDDERSFIELD’S historic landmark, Castle Hill, could be the key to helping jobless people find new work.

The site is providing a training opportunity that could help local unemployed people on to a new career path.

A dozen people are learning the traditional craft of dry stone walling as part of Kirklees Council's ‘build’ programme.

The scheme provides short-term skills and craft training for unemployed people without affecting their benefit rights.

The trainees are replacing 100 metres of the original boundary wall around the top of Castle Hill and are learning every stage of dry stone walling in the process.

That includes laying footings through to putting coping stones on the top.

The training includes how to dismantle a dry stone wall – for once they have built the wall, the trainees will pull it down and rebuild it.

Master craftsman dry stone waller Nigel Goody is running the course for ‘build’.

He said: “We are trying to prepare them to be able to take the initial certificate in dry stone walling, Level 1 LANTRA/DSWA, when they will have to dismantle and then build a stretch of wall for an external examiner.

“Those doing the course are hopeful that it will give them new employment options.”

Carpenter Paul Power found himself unemployed after work in the building trade dried up.

With experience also in tree management and chainsaw operation, he hopes a qualification in dry stone walling might lead to a career in landscaping.

He said: “While there is no work around, I might as well do what I can to gain new skills. I love it.”

James Nee has already done courses in joinery and motor mechanics, but the dry stone walling is his favourite.

“I like using my hands and being out and about,” he added.

As Castle Hill is a designated Ancient Monument, consent from English Heritage was needed for this project.

As much as possible of the original stone will be re-used, with new local stone from Johnson’s Quarries on Crosland Moor being used sparingly.

Castle Hill Ranger Julian Brown said: “It is really pleasing to be able to provide an opportunity that could help some of these guys find work.

“It will be strange watching them build the wall, then pull it down and build it again. However, at the end of the day, we will get a much-needed restored wall and, if this course is a success, there may be more of them – there are plenty of dry stone walls to work on up here.”