The enquiry below comes from Margaret Hauser, a fairly new
list member:-
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Does anyone have any views on the pros and cons of publicising the
whereabouts of a well with intact stonework in a remote unguarded site?
I've been restoring a well in Oxfordshire and the Parish Council would like
to encourage people to visit it but are concerned about vandalism or theft
of the stonework. There have been reported incidents in the area of paving
stones being lifted, even complete roofs being stripped from buildings by
thieves and of slogans spray-painted onto stonework. Landscape gardeners
are sometimes the culprits and many insurance companies now offer garden
insurance. It goes
against the grain to consider cementing the drystone walling together.
Should we take the risk and encourage visitors? Robber trenches are well
known to archaeologists and many functioning wells had a resident
'guardian', so I'm sure this isn't a new problem, but 17th century speculative
builders didn't have four-wheel trucks and crane hoists nor mountain bikes
and spray cans!
Margaret Hauser
THE REFUGEE STUDIES PROGRAMME
Queen Elizabeth House
University of Oxford
21 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LA, UK
Tel: (01865) 270724
Fax: (01865) 270721
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