Category Archives: Sodhouse Bank

Extreme pointing

Not wanting to delay too long after finishing the outside walls of the shed, I’ve made a start on the inside. 

I thought it prudent to begin with the part-buried wall. My intention was to remove the inner layer of stone, in sections (to reduce the risk of collapse), then rebuild it. I knew that the outer layer would be in a pretty bad state, but I had to revise my plan when I encountered daylight. 

This section is now repaired, but there’s clearly some work to be done before I can rebuild the inner wall. 

While working on the shed, I’ve started to wonder whether it’s actually older than the house. I’d always assumed that they would have been built at the same time. But my project has walls build from very large blocks of stone. 

Of course, I’ll never know for certain either way. The only known face is that the shed existed in 1865, since it appears on a map from that time. It’s very likely to be older though, because the house dates back to the 1830s. 

Regardless of its age, the ‘s a cool little thing. I do acknowledge that I need to take care to avoid it becoming an obsession. 

Chimney

I had a pleasant day with gentlemen in Ouseburn yesterday. We began in Gateshead in Station East, crossing over the river to the Bridge Hotel. Then we called off at the Bridge Tavern and the Tyne Bar, before walking to the Cumberland Arms. And the Cluny, of course. And Arch 2. Afterwards, there were cabs back to town and the newly opened Newcastle Tap. 

Incapable of my usual, local nightcap, I retired early. 

Waking early this morning, I fitted the last piece of stove pipe, so I now have a working chimney. 

This afternoon, we’re off to Chase Park festival, which isn’what I’d really call a festival, and isn’t actually in Chase Park. This year, it’s just down the road in Saltwell Park. 

Sunday

I’ve spent the best part of today in the garden again. But the outside (or the 50% which is accessible) of the shed is now finished. 

The door numbers (137) just need to go back on when the paint’s dry. The new shed is also now appropriately numbered. 

The sledgehammer in the stove pipe is temporary, I should say; it’s holding the pipe at the right angle (I didn’t want to cut away part of the roof) until the cement sets. Then I just need to add another section of pipe and I’ll be able to test the stove. 

Sodhouse Bank Brewery III

I might have to drop the Roman numerals and use something else. Because this damn shed is going to take months. 

I have, however, reduced the side of the hole and pointed the first wall. 

The hole must remain a little longer; I need an additional 90 degree pipe bend. 

Sodhouse Bank Brewery II

Since the stove for the shed arrived a few days ago, a hole needed to be made in the wall. Sadly, the hole didn’t quite work out as I’d planned.

So, the shed wasn’t supposed to have eyes. The stonework was in worse condition than I’d expected and … well … I might have started in the wrong place. 

Yes, the hole on the right, or the left below, wasn’t supposed to be there. 

It kindof looks more like a face (an owl?) from the outside. 

Anyway, the stove pipe now meets the outside world. 

And some stone has been reinstated. I need to let it harden before finishing it it off. Perhaps on Sunday. 

Setback

Thinking positively, I’ve finished the interior of the shed roof. 

And primed it for one distant day in the future when the walls will be finished. 

Alas, that day has slipped even further away than I’d planned. It seems that the damp-proofing of a couple of years ago wasn’t a huge success. 

I’m now tasked with removing all of the two-year-old plaster from the offending wall (at least) and starting again. 

I’d always suspected that more laborious solutions would be needed, but I was fooled by the lack of obvious damp in the shed. 

It’s a shame that I can’t retrospectively sue the philanthropist (according to the internet) who built the estate behind our house. You’d have thought that the fact that we live on (almost at the top of) a stupidly steep hill would have discouraged further development, but the solution appears to have been to level-off the ground. Which resulted in our shed becoming something of an underground cavern. 

Sadly, since the neighbouring houses arrived at the turn of the last century, it’s somewhat late to be lodging a complaint. 

My desire to restore the shed might seem irrational. But it’s a lovely (damp) thing (with a new ceiling). 

Insulation

It’s been many years since I’ve used loft insulation. But I recall how horrible it was to handle and wasn’t looking forward to putting some in the shed. 

Developments in insulation have clearly passed me by though; the recycled plastic variety we bought last night is itch-free and great to handle. 

Unfortunately, doubling up has left me with a shortfall and I’ve had to stop for the day.