Particular to Sussex, this style of fence uses sweet chestnut and is called the 'Sussex Cleft'.
Like the oak used on the gateway project the coppiced sweet chestnut is locally sourced and completely sustainable.
The logs are split using wedges and a hammer. Historically, a very heavy homemade mallet, called a 'beetle', would have been used.
Some of the split logs are used as 'posts', and a rectangular hole is cut at the top so they are able to receive the remaing split wood that form the 'rails' of the fence.
This item was posted 19/01/09.
Previous news:
19/01/09
Wood for fencing harvested
16/01/09
Carving nears completion
20/12/08
The oak arrives