When I came to think about fences there wasn’t much I could find of interest; most of the interesting dividing lines around here are walls rather than fences, so I have cheated a little bit. (What are rules for if not to be bent a little?) So, apart from the first couple I have selected some photos which show the spaces between the fences – in other words, the gates and stiles! I hope nobody minds.
Fence upon fence on the Isle of Lewis.
This was once part of a fence but all that’s left is the remains of a post.
The fence of a grand park but I cannot recall quite where it was – somewhere in England if that’s any help!
An unusual type of gate that tips when you put weight on one side –
It is designed to stop sheep getting through and to make the unwary walker, not used to such a system, fall flat on their face. These two examples are on heathland near me on the Wirral.
This gate is also quite close to my house.
This heavy stone block keeps the gate closed and stops the deer getting through on a Derbyshire estate.
Here’s a smaller version (and yes, I know it’s in a wall not a fence).
The top one just about qualifies because you can see bits of fence on top of the walls! They are called kissing gates – a very common form of gate on footpaths in England and Wales. These are on the Lleyn Peninsula, N Wales.
This stile is also on the Lleyn and has a most unusual dog friendly gate next to it.
And, also on the Lleyn – at Llanystumdwy - my favourite gate ever – a brilliant hand-made rustic gate.
If you would like to see other members' shoot-outs please go to the link page.
To learn more about the Friday My Town Shoot-out why not pay a visit to the
home blog.
Scriptor, what a great post. It was very interesting. I wish you had found about 50 more gates, because I enjoyed your comments about them so much. Things look so lush and green, where you live.
ReplyDeleteIt must be a Brit vs. American thing but why isn't a wall that divides / surrounds not a fence...
ReplyDeleteBut didn't mind in the least your choices. I love the fence along the parkway with the very green parkland behind. also enjoyed all the inventive gates. Brilhant.
Great collection of shots. There are so many interesting varieties. I like the one that lifts with the weight. I have never seen that before.
ReplyDeleteYou have some very interesting gates here, some I've never seen before in my life! thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow such beautiful fences there..they seem to be pretty ugly here in Idaho..wonderful gates with moose and elk on them..but the fences..not so much!! Wonderful shoot out I loved the second one!! Namaste, Sarah
ReplyDeleteI think it's fair to call walls fences. Beautiful fences! I love the rustic gate at the end, and would like to have that in my own back yard. My fence pics were not nearly as cool.
ReplyDeleteHi John. For such a challenge you sure did manage to find some very interesting fences. I really like all of the ones you photographed. They all have character. I like the sheep gate and of course, the last one is awesome too. Sometimes simplicity is the greatest.
ReplyDeleteBrrr! You live in a beautiful landscape, but I think I would freeze if I had to deal with negative temperatures. Great gates, facilitating great hiking.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite fence shot is of the ones crossing and crossing Lewis, seemingly pointlessly.
Most excellent post -- gates, fences, walls...they all fit. And I never knew there were so many different interesting gates! I think Leonardo De Vinci must have been Welsh. Thank you for pulling this collection together!
ReplyDeleteAnd, like Ginger, I don't know the difference between a wall and a fence.
It's obviously a British thing but over here a fence is made of wood, or wood and wire, or possibly just metal (in which case it is usually called railings). A wall is made of stone or brick and we would never refer to a stone wall as a 'fence'.
ReplyDeletewow! very interesting fences and gates. wonderful post! have a great weekend!!
ReplyDeleteYour description in the comment is exactly the way I think of walls and fences. Walls are brick or stone; fences are wooden or metal or electric wire. We have a wooden one near the house and an electric one surrounding the pastures. I loved all your pictures. Of all the things I love about your land, the gates and pathways may be my favorites.
ReplyDeleteNow, for something completely different! I dreamed last night that you and your wife came over to visit. You wanted to bring back some pasta you couldn't get over there. Isn't that so funny? And you didn't come to this house, you stayed with us in our old house - the house I grew up in, and then Tom and I lived in for eight years before coming here.
I was absolutely fascinated by these Scriptor. The variety and ingenuity behind the various gateways was amazing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, and for bending the rules a little.
Barry & Linda
This is another thing in life I love, poetic fences!
ReplyDeleteBending the rules for Friday Shootout is a social norm among the FSO gang...so no one minds!!!
ReplyDeleteThe dividing lines in your part of the world seem so much more elegant that here in the New World...like when I think of hundreds of years old markers, I wonder who put them up originally and why.
Goodness, Nan, when people dream about me they usually describe it as a nightmare. Hadn't eaten cheese for supper had you? I wonder what sort of pasta it was? I'm more likely to bring back some of your apple and cranberry muffins or your rhubarb!
ReplyDeleteWay cool fences and gates. The last gate is my favorite. I think that the older gates and fences retain a certain character until the turn to dust. You have captured them well.
ReplyDeletehad to come back to see if you commented on the fence vs wall question.... then went online to see what the rest of the world thinks.... 3rd search brough up this....Thesaurus
ReplyDeleteNoun 1. fence - a barrier that serves to enclose an area
fencing
backstop - (baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field
barrier - a structure or object that impedes free movement
chainlink fence - a fence of steel wires woven into a diamond pattern
hedge, hedgerow - a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
paling, picket fence - a fence made of upright pickets
rail fence - a fence (usually made of split logs laid across each other at an angle)
stone wall - a fence built of rough stones; used to separate fields
wall - a masonry fence (as around an estate or garden); "the wall followed the road"; "he ducked behind the garden wall and waited"
weir - a fence or wattle built across a stream to catch or retain fish
fence line - a boundary line created by a fence
love your ice vs nature story. so what is the babies name?
loved your gates!
ReplyDeleteI think this was a brilliant post, and love all of the different types of gates - had never seen the tipping one before!
ReplyDeleteWhat memories your post brings back! I love walking in England, climbing over the stiles, figuring out the unusual gates, trying not to fall flat on my face.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. In my book if it keeps something in or something out, it's a fence. Loved your kissing gates, have never seen anything like them.
ReplyDeleteScriptor, this was great! I love the agricultural fences and gates and the details about how they work. This is a classic example of why our shoot outs are so interesting, we get to share our knowledge, neighbourhoods and quirks. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are awesome and very interesting. I love how they are so different in other countries :)
ReplyDeletelove the gate that tips with weight on one side, and the handmade gate is awesome! The fence post still standing was also excellent. They all were, those three just made me do s double take. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for all your comments - I think that's a record number for one posting so congratulations to Sandra for the great choice of topic.
ReplyDeleteNow that the soil has been removed, time to make a wall/fence to hide the ugly bank. I had no fear of the bank falling down, as its probably been there for a million years. So that means no need for a retaining wall as such, more of a fence. gates and fences
ReplyDelete