Cleft Gate Hurdle Making Workshop

Cleft Gate Hurdle Making Workshop

On this one day workshop you will make your own mini traditional wooden Cleft Gate Hurdle to take home with you.

This course is a great opportunity to learn new skills in a beautiful woodland setting.   

Discover how to cleave wood with a froe and shape with a drawknife.  Have a go at using a Twybil, also known as a Mortising knife

Cleft gates was essential in traditional British farming and dates back centuries. Originating from the need for portable, robust fencing, these hurdles were primarily used to control livestock movements. The construction process begins by selecting young, straight ash wood, prized for its resilience and flexibility. Using a tool called a froe, the wood is split along its grain into long, thin strips. These strips, or "clefts,"they are then shaped using a draw knife, and then fixed between two vertical stakes using a mortise and tenant joint. 

The tenant is shaped using a draw knife and the mortise is made using a twybil. This method of splitting rather than sawing maintains the wood's natural strength, ensuring durability. The craft of making ash cleft gate hurdles saw a decline with modern fencing materials but has experienced a revival due to a renewed interest in sustainable and traditional farming techniques. 

Today, these hurdles are appreciated for their historical significance and aesthetic beauty. 

Course Details:

• Location: Woodland site near Warminster, Wiltshire
• Duration: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (half-hour lunch break)
• Course Fee: £75 a small booking fee may be added by Eventbrite
• Age Requirement: Minimum age 18(younger students by arrangement)
• Refreshments: Throughout the day a variety of teas and coffees will be available, and the kettle will be on for you to make a cuppa

We are situated near Warminster in the heart of Wiltshire, Southwest England, with easy access from Bristol, Bath, Salisbury, Southampton, Chippenham, Swindon, and London. The closest railway station is Warminster, approximately a 10-minute drive from our location.