Tel: 07889 107008

Chestnut & Oak 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 or chestnut; both of which have a high resilient strength, are suitable to cleave or split and have a high natural tannin content protecting the wood from rot. Chestnut with its very high tannin content and minimal sap wood provides the best durability as posts set into the ground. We now mostly use chestnut which we find more durable than oak, though we will still use oak when requested. A 15 to 20 year life span would be expected.

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

Chestnut is available all year whereas oak is harvested and split to order.

Matching gates from riven chestnut and oak are available.

Post and Rail Cleft Fencing - Examples

<span>Ref: A1</span><br>A three rail cleft chestnut fence for The National Trust at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A2</span><br>Riven oak rails morticed into oak posts for the National Trust at Woolsthorpe Manor, Grantham. Top rail at 4', materials approx £71.40/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A3</span><br>Cleft chestnut rails surrounding a car park are in keeping with the woodland setting. Top rail at 3', materials approx £38.06/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A4</span><br>Oak fencing surrounding a lake adds to the character of this rural scene. Top rail at 3', materials approx £54.85/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A5</span><br>Each set of rails has a similar shape since they are riven from the same log. Top rail at 4', materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A6</span><br>Cleft chestnut paddock fence with four rails. Note the round corner posts. Top rail at 4', materials approx £38.06/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A7</span><br>This riven chestnut fence delineates this orchard with style. Top rail at 4', materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A8</span><br>Cleft chestnut fencing can separate a garden from the countryside in a more gentle manner than a standard agricultural post and rail fence.Top rail at 4', materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A9</span><br>Here, a simple two rail riven fence breaks up a large garden, incorporating a decorative arch. Top rail at 3', materials approx £22.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A10</span><br>Traditional cleft fencing fits well in a rural setting of woods, field and hedgerows. Top rail at 4', materials approx £22.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A11</span><br>This chestnut fence at 3’6” high separates the drive from the animals in the fields; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A12</span><br>For a less rustic approach, this client has opted for sawn chestnut posts with sawn cleft rails; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A13</span><br>This photo shows a sawn corner post and the incorporation of an existing gate; Macclesfield, Cheshire. <span>Ref: A14</span><br>We use sturdy materials for our estate fencing, as seen here for The National Trust at Styal Mill, Cheshire; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A15</span><br>This cleft fence keeps horses and walkers safely on the bridleway; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A16</span><br>Sawn chestnut posts here made it easier to sink them into the bedrock along this track on the valley side, for The National Trust, Cheshire; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A17</span><br>Tractor and an empty trailer at the end of a job; we have the machinery to tackle any sized contract. <span>Ref: A18</span><br>A cleft chestnut fence separating the mown lawn from the rough grassed orchard, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A19</span><br>A 4’ high cleft chestnut fence lining the Cinder Track from the mill to Dunham Massey Estate, National Trust, Cheshire; materials approx £22.31/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A20</span><br>This cleft fence is strong enough to prevent the black bull from wandering; materials approx £22.31/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A21</span><br>This short section of square cleft post and rail shows the weathering of the wood as it turns a silver colour; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A22</span><br>The two rail chestnut fence makes an attractive safety barrier whilst mowing the lawn, Oxford; materials approx £22.31/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A23</span><br>Square cleft chestnut posts replacing an old fence in this pony paddock, Southwell, Nottinghamshire; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A24</span><br>A natural fork step over/squeeze stile in chestnut; £144 inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A25</span><br>A 3 rail cleft chestnut fence sent by pallet to Cornwall, installed by the client; materials approx £30.18/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A26</span><br>A repeat order for more fencing allowed me to take this photo of how the chestnut is weathering in after five years; materials approx £22.31/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A27</span><br>Four rail cleft chestnut with square cleft posts, as compared to half round posts, Ashbourne, Derbyshire; materials approx £38.06/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A28</span><br>Cleft chestnut with sawn chestnut posts, Cardiff; materials approx £22.31/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A29</span><br>Heavy duty chestnut estate fencing, designed to last, Blithfield Manor, Staffordshire; materials approx £38.06/metre inc. VAT. <span>Ref: A30</span><br>A low cleft rail delineating the paths within a woodland garden, Windsor, London; materials approx £10.30/metre inc. VAT

Cleft Pale Fencing

<span>Ref: A31</span><br>This cleft medieval deer park style fence fits nicely with the new cedar greenhouse, and it keeps the chickens off the vegetable garden, Lyme Park, Cheshire; materials approx £50.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A32</span><br>Cleft chestnut pales at 3’ high specified for this Grade One listed building, Altringham, Manchester; materials approx £43.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A33</span><br>For a more private feel, these 6’ pales are butted close together leaving minimum spacing, Grindleford; materials approx £117.00/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A34</span><br>Riven chestnut pales at 4’ attached to cleft rails which are screwed to 4” square chestnut posts, Knutsford, Cheshire; materials approx £50.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A35</span><br>4’ cleft chestnut pales with morticed square cleft chestnut posts, the posts blend with the pales; materials approx £50.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A36</span><br>Cleft pale fence at 4’ with cleft rails morticed into posts, stops children tumbling into the road in this Grade 2 listed cottage, Staffordshire; materials approx £50.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A37</span><br>A 4’ medieval deer fence with matching gate and arch outside this old cottage, Grindleford, Derbyshire; materials approx £50.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A38</span><br>This 4’ cleft pale fence gives enough light and air to allow the newly planted hedge to grow, Knutsford, Cheshire; materials approx £50.31/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A39</span><br>The inside of this pale fence shows cleft chestnut rails and sawn chestnut posts, Knutsford, Cheshire; materials approx £50.31/metre inc. VAT

Gate Hurdles and Half Round Pales

<span>Ref: A40</span><br>A 4’ chestnut pale fence with two heights of half round pale; Shropshire; materials approx £51.18/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A41</span><br>Me delivering gate hurdles to Heage Windmill, Derbyshire, to stop visitors walking into the sails; 6’ x 3’6” at £120 each inc. VAT <span>Ref: A42</span><br>Gate hurdles are portable, yet strong , and make an attractive fence for the garden; 6’ x 3’6” at £120 each inc. VAT <span>Ref: A43</span><br>Gate hurdles, made from chestnut and ash, traditionally used to pen sheep; 6’ x 3’6” at £120 each inc. VAT <span>Ref: A44</span><br>A 4’ chestnut pale fence with two heights of half round pale; Shropshire; materials approx £51.18/metre inc. VAT <span>Ref: A45</span><br>Half round chestnut pales screwed onto cleft rails and supported by chestnut posts makes a less heavy 4’ fence around a fruit garden; materials approx £51.18/metre inc. VAT
All of our gates are made of oak or chestnut with mortice and tennon joints, held tight with oak pegs.

Oak and chestnut gates

All of our gates are made of oak or chestnut with mortice and tennon joints, held tight with oak pegs. Find Out More
One of our latest projects was to install this cleft chestnut fence to keep the client’s dog off the veg patch.

Dog Fence

One of our latest projects was to install this cleft chestnut fence to keep the client’s dog off the veg patch. View Project

Chestnut & Oak Cleft Fencing - Prices

For materials in chestnut (for oak add 70%) ; including VAT

Rails – standard length of 9’6″ at £18.00 giving 9’ centres for the posts

Posts – for a 3’ to 4′ high fence, £18 each plus £3.60 per mortice hole (to accept a pair of rails). Above this height add £6.00 per foot

Pales – feather edged pales suitable for picket fencing; £1.20 per foot approximately 3 inches wide.

Half round pales are available when material is in stock.

Gate Hurdles – standard size 3 feet 6 inches by 6 feet £140.00

Delivery and instalment is available; an estimate of £40 a post plus delivery.

For installations using pales, an extra £25 per bay is charged.

Please contact us for more details and a quote