Blonde ambition - Wow they were hard to take up!

[Francesca75]

Walking through the woods one day following some tracks...I was nearly hit by a train:)

Bearing that in mind, I need some advice.

I spent Saturday (no I don't watch football) in the middle of a disused factory courtyard in Birmingham removing granite sets...my God they were tough! My question is back in the day when they were laid (about the 1930's) what on earth was sticking them together. One clue may be the fact that I couldn't remove the dry ones, only the ones that had moss growing on them. I would like to know as it seems that it would be a good idea to replicate what was done, because I don't want them shifting in my little garden.

Also, my top soil is about a foot deep and directly on bedrock, can I get away with a small amount sub base, just to even things out, or have I done the entirely wrong thing by getting these stones? Should I stick to cooking and darning and leave all this to the geezers?

Cheers,

Francesca

[Tony McC]

1930s setts were most likely to have been pitch jointed.

I can't comment on whether you need a small amount of sub-base or whether you've done the right/wrong thing as I have no idea as to what it is you're trying to do.