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 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.

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

Matching gates from riven chestnut or oak are available.

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 50%) ; 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 £4.00 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 £30 a post plus delivery.

For installations using pales, an extra £20 per bay is charged.

Please contact us for more details and a quote