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Oak & Chestnut Cleft Fencing
Cleft fencing is the original method by which our ancestors fenced their land thousands of years ago. Still continued today by a few skilled craftsmen, cleft oak or chestnut fencing makes a durable, and very strong, attractive barrier.

The best materials for this are oak, chestnut or ash; all of which have a high resilient strength and are suitable to cleave or split. Oak and chestnut have a very high tannin content providing excellent durability as posts set in the ground. Ash, as well as oak and chestnut, will last equally as long as rails or poles above ground level. A 20 to 25 year life span would be expected.

All materials are locally harvested and riven (split) by hand into posts, rails or upright broad pales.

Matching gates from riven chestnut, oak or ash are available.
Cleft Fencing
Riven oak rails morticed into oak posts for the National Trust. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Riven oak rails morticed into oak posts for the National Trust.		Cleft chestnut rails surrounding a car park are in keeping with the woodland setting. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Cleft chestnut rails surrounding a car park are in keeping with the woodland setting.
Oak fencing surrounding a lake adds to the character of this rural scene. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Oak fencing surrounding a lake adds to the character of this rural scene.		Each set of rails has a similar shape since they are riven from the same log. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Each set of rails has a similar shape since they are riven from the same log.
Upright chestnut pales are nailed to the cleft rails in a medieval deer park style. Various configurations of rails and pales are possible. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Upright chestnut pales are nailed to the cleft rails in a medieval deer park style. Various configurations of rails and pales are possible.		Half round ash pales nailed onto ash rails and supported by chestnut posts, make a less heavy type of fence around a fruit garden. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Half round ash pales nailed onto ash rails and supported by chestnut posts, make a less heavy type of fence around a fruit garden.
Gate hurdles: made of ash with chestnut heads (the end uprights) traditionally used to pen sheep. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Gate hurdles: made of ash with chestnut heads (the end uprights) traditionally used to pen sheep.		Gate hurdles are portable, yet strong fences used as temporary barriers. Much more attractive than modern plastic orange netting. CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Gate hurdles are portable, yet strong fences used as temporary barriers. Much more attractive than modern plastic orange netting.
Click on a photo to enlarge in a new window.

Prices

For materials alone (oak, chestnut or ash)

Rails - standard length of 9 feet £10.00.
Posts - £1.50 per foot plus £3.00 per mortice hole (to accept a pair of rails).
Pales - 50p per foot at 3 to 5 inches wide.
Gate Hurdles - standard size 3 feet 6 inches by 6 feet £50.00

VAT Not Applicable

Delivery and instalment is available.
Please contact us for more details.
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Oak and Chestnut Cleft Fencing
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