Stone garden bench

[vicky whitworth]

Hello, and a Happy Easter to all.
The sunshine has made me realise just how lovely the view is from our orchard and I'd like to buy a stone garden seat (with a back) so we can spend more time out there. I thought about a timber seat but they mostly seem to be teak and I'm not sure of their green credentials plus timber needs maintenance and I think the sheep will jump on the seat or rub up to it at least. So stone seems best.
Lots of the modern ones are a bit frilly for me. Lots of twirls and carved (badly) roses. I'd like something simple and classical.
Any thoughts on where I might buy one of these? I know they are expensive. I see it as a thing to treasure.
Thanks, Vicky

 

[MdB]

Unlikely to be what you want but Exeter Hospital has a brick sofa. It isn't as comfortable as it looks...

 

[Feltwell]

Unlikely to be what you want but Exeter Hospital has a brick sofa. It isn't as comfortable as it looks...

That's fantastic! I want one!

 

[JoceAndChris]

I don't!

I was going to suggest Haddonstone Vicky but think they may be too frilly for you - these have a rural charm but again may not fit your idea. I think you're just going to have to trawl round the salvage yards!

http://www.ukarchitecturalantiques.com/salvaged_antique_hand_carved_sandstone_garden_bench_seat_86

 

[FamilyWiggs]

You want a nice oak one, surely?

 

[jocelyn plummer]

I think you're just going to have to trawl round the salvage yards!

or Country House sales, there must be one on somewhere in your area. Haddonstone is OK but I always think it takes a while to weather down.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

How about these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antique-Stone-Garden-Seat-Bench-/390301681653?pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenFurnitureR2_SM&hash=item5adfcb07f5

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antique-Stone-Garden-Seat-Bench-/390298229386?pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenFurnitureR2_SM&hash=item5adf965a8a

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STONE-GARDEN-BENCH-SEAT-4-CHAMFERED-FRONT-REDUCED-/150584755503?pt=UK_Antiques_Architecural_RL&hash=item230f8d052f

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STONE-SEAT-LARGE-CARVED-STONE-BENCH-/270361519795?pt=UK_Antiques_Architecural_RL&hash=item3ef2cd66b3

OK - so the last one is a touch pricey!

 

[Feltwell]

OK - so the last one is a touch pricey!

Yes - plus it looks like it would be excruciatingly uncomfortable to actually sit on!

 

[Feltwell]

I don't!

What, not even if they did you a nice brick chaise longue Joce? :wink:

A brick Chesterfield perhaps, a bit more classical than the Exeter one?

http://www.jacksonharris.co.uk/brick8.htm

Being serious for a moment, the artist's website has some interesting stuff on it, including a little restoration work.

http://www.jacksonharris.co.uk/index.htm

 

[d49xc]

Remember that stone seats will be very heavy...so factor in how to get it to where it needs to be.

 

[JoceAndChris]

to the brick chaise.

Very true about the heaviness, but when we bought a stone bench for our London garden it came with two gorgeous hunks from the shop. Sadly, they were only a temporary feature of the garden.

 

[vicky whitworth]

Thank you for the suggestions. I love the Exeter sofa. I have a pile of left over bricks...

New excitement now as the scaffolders arrived yesterday at 9 (do they have no concept of a public holiday?) and now we are clad top to toe in poles and boards. No sign that the builder will do anything more though. Awaiting on the work to extract insulation from the roof by taking six rows of tiles off, and have the outside re-pointed and then lime washed.

Cat has learnt to use scaffolding to access bedroom at 4 in the morning with mouse in mouth.

 

[Flyfisher]

Cat has learnt to use scaffolding to access bedroom at 4 in the morning with mouse in mouth.

Ditto. I watched our cat climb a near vertical ladder to get to the top of the scafolding and thence onto the roof. She would then walk to the roof section without scaffolding and sit on the lowest pantiles with no apparent fear of falling.

Sadly, she was quick to notice the swifts nesting under the tiles and killed two of them last year.

 

[Feltwell]

See - another argument for the obvious superiority of dogs over cats as pets - they don't climb scaffolding at any time of day, let alone 4am - neither do they attack swifts.

Says he, unwisely opening the can of worms that is the dogs vs cats argument once more :wink:

 

[FamilyWiggs]

See - another argument for the obvious superiority of dogs over cats as pets - they don't climb scaffolding at any time of day, let alone 4am - neither do they attack swifts.

Says he, unwisely opening the can of worms that is the dogs vs cats argument once more :wink:

Ugh - cats would never eat a can of worms, whilst dogs will eat anything (ask Yamin!). Thus showing that cats are better.

End of.

 

[Feltwell]

Don't be silly FW, they can't get the tin opener to work :roll:

Cats go to a lot of effort to present you with half-dead mice as a gift at 4am. Dogs just snore at 4am - therefore clearly proving their intellectual superiority over cats.

 

[Pford75]

Cats watch out......

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/38/20110426/tuk-police-hunt-serial-cat-killer-107bc4a.html

 

[JoceAndChris]

How appalling! Some very sick people out there...

Cats and dogs both have some very unappealing traits I must say. Macavity is doing is best to claw up one end of the golden chaise and it's been spoiling our friendship lately, but this morning I've been reading that such quarrels are utterly futile, that bit of the chaise must have tinfoil pinned on, lemon must be infused into the silk, and a very substantial scratching post situated alongside. I hope this will solve the problem.

I know if I had two large dogs gold silk seating and light FnB wallpapers would be out of the question!

He is a good cat though, only killed 2 birds in his life and keeps the rodents at bay - the chickens love to gobble up his kill and Macav likes a bit of scrambled egg so it's a very satisfying co-dependency. I recommend the British Shorthair if you like cats but don't like that they kill birds, these animals are too heavy to have success with this prey. And they are SO magnificent.
http://www.britishshorthaircatclub.co.uk/show.htm

 

[vicky whitworth]

There is no question about superiority. As every cat knows (and, of course, doesn't need to shout about) cats are running the show. Take Albert Herring (for it is he who arrives at 4am with mouse) he may look, smell and yowl like an orange-haired drunken Scotsman (apologies to those of Scottish blood), he may be responsible for the grass snake in the parlour, the baby robin sitting on the pantry shelf and the butter bean piece of mouse brain squashed under my slipper this morning but when it comes to choosing wisely when folk turn up at Cat Rescue Albert Herring can recognise a HOME WITH AN AGA at 100 paces. Hope the pic uploads. Not very good with technology - should have asked Albert to help me!

 

[Flyfisher]

It's good to see that Albert takes off his boots before jumping into bed.