Balls.

[Manks]

I need some stone balls for the top of four gate posts, two about 12" and two perhaps eight. However, I don't know where to buy them off the shelf in Nottingham.

Would anyone be able to suggest a source please?

Manks

 

[Ian Bond]

These guys have got plenty of balls.... Sandstone balls for all sorts of ornamental uses!

http://www.stoneballs.co.uk/

I think they're near Melton Mowbray.

Some interesting facts about balls from their website:

Many buildings had carved ball finials on the gable ends which acted as a lightning
rod, but was believed by some to be a deterrent to witches.
On landing on a roof, the obstructing finial forced the witch on her broomstick
to sheer off and land elsewhere.
Balls were also placed outside a house to create fruitfulness and fertility.

:mrgreen:

Hope it's of use.

btw - There's a pic of a vernacular stone house with ball finials and a lovely rose wheel window, from the 'facts' button. I recognise the building
and am now trying to remember where it is. I'm sure it's in West Yorks, near me.

http://www.stoneballs.co.uk/websitedownloadablebrochure 'facts'.pdf

 

[Ian Bond]

Found it!

http://www.ryburne.co.uk/woodlanehall.htm

Bedroom 3 is most interesting, if you are of a nautical bent.

Nearly bought this one for myself - reminds me of East Riddlesden Hall.

 

[Ian Bond]

I should add, it would be worth asking them where they're getting the stone from - it could be imported sandstone.

Would be nice to think that someone was still carving stone quarried here in the UK.

I have enough trouble cutting my local millstone grit nice and square and to the right size using hand tools. If I had a hat, I would take it off to the old boys who carved those spheres several hundred years ago.

Note that I used the word spheres.

I'm trying to avoid saying balls again.

Oh balls!
:mrgreen:

 

[Penners]

I hereby decline to participate in this thread, on the grounds that I may tend to incriminate myself.

Thank you.

 

[middi]

Filthy minds think alike

 

[Nemesis]

I get told off when I'm rude.

 

[Manks]

I have contacted Stoneballs and they seem very helpful. Will let you all know as and when they arrrive, and might even photograph my balls in case anyone would like to see them.

 

[Nemesis]

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Ours are disintegrating a tad.

 

[chuckey]

Good sperical object tale:- Wandered into a german castle near the river Rhein, I think it was called "Berg Else" the castle is actually three independent buildings on a common base on the top of a peak. During a siege of it, the enemy built a siege engine on a even higher peak and hurled large stone balls at the berg each one 18" diam. During excavations they have found more then 300!!!!. Thats a lot of chipping!! Interesting place(s).
Frank

 

[Flyfisher]

I wonder why they bothered to chisel out spheres; wouldn't roughly broken rocks have had pretty much the same effect when hurled from a trebuchet or similar? Alternatively, there's always flaming pianos .

 

[Ian Bond]

Glad they were helpful, Manks - looking forward to seeing the pics of your gate posts!

Not sure what the stone theft situation is like around your way - in these parts I'd have to secure the finials or they would get nicked.

A most amusing discussion - can't think why some people think it's rude though :?:

oo-er!

 

[Manks]

A most amusing discussion - can't think why some people think it's rude though

I think it's simply that some people here have grubby minds.

There's nothing at all improper about a chap wanting a pair of balls to play around with. Gordon Brown, for example, regularly plays eighteen holes with Ed and Yvette.

 

[Ian Bond]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Manks]

An interesting point has been raised though. How do I stop my balls being pinched?

The last thing I'd want is to have a young boy on my column grabbing one of my balls. What would be the most satisfactory manner in which to keep them safe?

 

[Flyfisher]

The young boy or the balls?

 

[Ian Bond]

:shock:

Someone nicked all the coping stones from my wall. The only suggestion I had was to use iron bars to secure the stone to the wall. Not really feasible in my case, as even if I did drill all the stones, it would be difficult to secure the bar in the loose rubble core of the wall.

The only way I can think of securing the coping stones is to fix an iron railing ontop, which would be more expensive. And they'd probably nick the railing and the copings together.

Maybe the supplier can suggest a suitable method of securing the finials? The only way I can think of would be to drill both the finial and post, and use a stainless steel bar and epoxy resin to bond them together. Might be stronger than just mortaring the finials on, but it's only a theory - I've never done it.

It's really coming to something when people not only break into your property and steal things from it, but steal bits of it too.

 

[Penners]

How do I stop my balls being pinched?

I believe a good, strong double gusset can often help.

 

[MdB]

How do I stop my balls being pinched?

I believe a good, strong double gusset can often help.

A reminder Penners:

I hereby decline to participate in this thread, on the grounds that I may tend to incriminate myself.

Thank you.

 

[Nemesis]

And another piece of cake with that?



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