What We FOUND Under The Driveway In Our Railway RENOVATION

[@vickiefowler1429]

The dirt, or “muck” just comes from years of fallen leaves composting naturally. The row of pavers next to the curb was likely just for proper drainage to allow runoff from the walkway platform.

[@user-fk9mz3vu9k]

I concur, the the row of original pavers were to direct water away from the station. Well done I look forward to seeing the renovation progress.

[@aok2727]

I agree no one actually covered it.

[@redorzed]

Interesting vid. You guys really need a wheelbarrow though! That looks like good soil, worth keeping.

[@lillic8522]

It seems to be a british and US-American thing to call compost or earth ‚dirt‘ - I always find that very offensive to mother earth 😉. Greetings from Switzerland where I wish we had old railway-stations for sale!

[@vickiefowler1429]

@@lillic8522 … 🤣 I’m sure it is an American thing to call it dirt, or soil. But, we do refer to the planet, as a whole, as “Earth”. To us, a pile of “dirt” is not the Earth and we mean no disrespect in calling it dirt, or soil, or muck (a mostly British term) or mud or sludge. It is just referring to the stuff at hand.

[@TheSteelRoad]

It's a curb and gutter used to collect run off water before it hits the station building. A fairly common thing to see.

[@linkinemerson8620]

Agree, I do land surveying & this just looks like a curb & gutter build to steer the water away from the house.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thanks so much

[@TheSteelRoad]

@@theoldstationrenovation no worries 😊 can't wait to see the progress of the renovation! That old bridge is pure gold and a great piece of history to have in your backyard!

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I know! In my minds eye I’ve got an image of me, on a summers afternoon sitting on a bench facing the pond and the bridge… there may be red wine involved as well…. Cheers 🍷

[@robertnightingale4101]

The kerb and channel is a standard construction technique to carry rain water from the carriageway to a gully pot or other drainage device. Usually done to help against erosion. I suspect the original carriageway would have been made of crushed stone.

[@jensschmidt]

Next step: Lift all the slabs in front of the station, remove all roots, put down a good gravel foundation and put the slabs back nice and even. I love this project! And I love that you gained almost 2k subscribers since I found you 48 hours ago.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you so much, it’s really taken us by surprise 😮

[@jamesa.rodriguez8598]

@theoldstationrenovation We in the USA love to build and rebuild things. We even have the original London Bridge removed and rebuilt somewhere in Arizona

[@Clove_Parma]

⁠@@jamesa.rodriguez8598that’s not the original. There have been several over the years, the one in the US is the 1835 bridge’s facade. Contrary to popular opinion it’s not the actual London bridge, rather it’s a concrete bridge with the facade of the old London bridge affixed to its exterior. It is pretty cool though

[@writerconsidered]

Don't give them work, If it ain't broke don't fix it. I think they have enough work on their hands.

[@jensschmidt]

@@writerconsidered True, but at the same time let them know when stuff is about to break. And from my experience, this sidewalk is so warped due to problems underneath that can only be seen and corrected when lifting the slabs. You wouldn't want a pretty house and yard only to find water leaking into the foundation due to roots under the front slabs that could have been taken out somewhat easily...

[@p.a.reysen3185]

I suggest that the flagstone slabs are holders, meant to protect the upright curbing. Also look for a possible former channel or drain at one end to sway the water away from the platform. When creating your lawn again, maybe use the flagstone level to be where the lawn needs to be. Could be a bit of soil removal is in order.

[@melissanielsen8215]

I think those slabs are there for easy removal of water to keep safe for the passenger entrance and exiting .The grass sod has risen above as that happens in as top soil .so glad your sharing this .

[@dickdavidson3616]

Digging out the rail bed to create a large rectangular garden pond will be a great feature for your property! ❤ Your home is going to be so unique!

[@theoldstationrenovation]

The railbed in the garden at the side is filled with grubby water (it’s in the latest video). It’ll take a lot of work to make it a nice pond but that’s the plan 😃 🤞🤞

[@andreweastwood862]

Would you need to remove the duckweed from the surface. It would allow more light into the water and enable a more naturally healthy pond.

[@creative-thinking]

What a project. Thank you for letting us come along with your journey Many years ago we had a project with our grounds Get your self a small digger and dumper This will save you many hours of moving thing twice Your compost as a value so start to pile it up in one place Divide your time into an hourly rate of achievement. Then look what you will achieve with a digger and a dumper. It won’t be long before you think why didn’t I do this before

[@hilda4114]

The slabs remind me of what you see in some old towns with original roads. The slabs between the road and walkway carries the rain water down to the end of the road allowing it to drain to prevent puddles and splashing people as car's drive by. Regardless, its a great discovery. Love that you are uncovering this after years of debris covering them. It would be interesting to speak to elderly people in the area who remember using that station. How exciting for all of you.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

They are very similar to those found in old villages. We love them.

[@debbiebarham6336]

Every little detail is important in renovating and redecorating. Once the lawn is cleared and cleaned you’ll practically have a brand new lawn. 😊

[@1834RestorationHouse]

So exciting! It's fun to find buried treasure like that. A couple of summers ago we unearthed some Victorian era brickwork at our house that had been broken and buried for decades. We cleaned it out and built it back again.

[@maretteschulz8898]

Looks like 'original' guttering. All you need is a little digger or backhoe to scrape the years of built up soil/mulch/debris off and bring the grass area back down to the level of what is was. Great find and I'd leave it exactly like that to give excess water on the path somewhere to drain away from the building.👌👌👏👏👏👏💕💕

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Definitely going to be bringing in a digger soon. I love mucking about with a spade but I know it’ll take forever!

[@barbarawhite7337]

Hard working people. This is an amazing endeavor and it will have quite the unveiling in the process.

[@joepierson3859]

A reciprocating saw with a branch cutting blade can remove those roots quickly without any danger. You can sink the blade right into the dirt

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I’ve just googled reciprocating saw… it’s gone straight on my list, thanks 👍

[@joepierson3859]

@@theoldstationrenovation it's the best demolition tool in general it can go through wood and nails and masonry with the right blades, much safer than a chainsaw

[@evilborg]

You are living my dream !! I'm a big rail fan !

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I’ll be honest, I didn’t really think about railways before, they were just kind of there… now I’m absolutely fascinated, the whole modern world is really down to railways!

[@evilborg]

@@theoldstationrenovation you guys are soooo lucky to own such a great piece of British rail history!!

[@vahneb7260]

This is fascinating. ❤ Thanks for taking us along 🚂

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Our pleasure, glad you’re enjoying. Choo choo!

[@sweetabby1106]

Your dogs insisting on playing ball while you work is too precious 💕

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I know!! They do love to play at the most opportune moments

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I’m sure they think they’re helping!

[@davidking3699]

Those slabs under the dirt are a kerb & gutter, like on a street... they would have allowed the traffic / cars, carts etc access to the path, but stopping the water from getting on the path... just like they do on a road... it's why they went all the way, it was dealing with surface water... they used to make them out of blocks like that, instead of the continuous concrete they do these days... keep digging down under the tarmac, you may find more pavers as a previous road surface - the tarmac would have been applied later, over the top... keep digging and you may even find a Roman road...

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Now that would be something! There were Romans round these parts after all.

[@buffplums]

I think whats happened is that the original concourse outside the station probably had a few broken flags and maybe the previous owners decided to cover it all over with these rather awful (if you dont mind me saying) modern flags. In the past there would have been a traditional metalled road which ran parallel with the concourse at the front of the station. If you examine your kerb stones, they look like they were the original ones that would have been at the edge of your flags and the road. The previous owners have dug them out and used them to edge their more modern flags. I reckon it would be worth lifting a few of the newer flags in different places and try and determine whats left of the original concourse paving. It could be a bit of a gamble and you took up all of the new slabs and maybe there was only a few of the old pavers still there or maybe they are all there. If there are just a few of the old slabs missing, you could edge them with brick to make nice planter beds?

[@buffplums]

Saying all that above, and watching until the end lol... it looks like the modern flags have replaced the origials so those kerbs ARE probably in the right place as those paving slabs are only small so that looks like the existing slabs and the kerb slabs formed the gutter at the edge of the road, maybe you will find a drain along the edge too? Its really exciting to see your work folks x

[@theoldstationrenovation]

We were thinking the new paving could have been laid over old. We think we will have to lift the new paving and relay it anyway because of the roots, lots are being pushed up. We did lift a couple and there doesn't seem to be much under them but worth further investigation when we get to relaying them.

[@NailahRoberts]

The slabs were common in Victorian times, fingers crossed that under the tarmac are original cobble stones.

[@gardenroom65]

What a great and original project. 🎉😊

[@fivegrandkids]

You need a saws all for the roots. It won’t dull like the chain saw.

[@ruadhscottygirl2480]

I concur. Watching that dull chainsaw trying to cut through a quite simple root was setting my teeth on edge.

[@vivlocke2694]

I only found your vlog two days ago and just love it. Your project is a real winner and I look forward to following your progress for as long as it takes.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you so much! ☺️ welcome aboard 🚂

[@Deaanl1]

This might just be me but the more you show the grounds i keep seeing it as a cottage garden with numerous rooms for different activities for the family. That bridge is such a focal point and a pond will be beautiful to envite plenty of wild life

[@koolkar55]

You guys need to buy a skid steer loader which will be so handy to clear all your land. So labour saving & the best thing I've ever bought. Make sure you get one with a clam bucket.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I had to Google that… what a great bit of kit!!

[@HYUKLDER1]

The edging you asked about is standard kerb and channel. Nothing unusual about that construction. So, you have the paving, then kerb edging, then the flat slabs you uncovered called the channel, and previously there would have been some sort of roadway surface which has been removed.

[@janehavens3086]

Binge watched all your episodes and really enjoyed them all. Can't wait to see this beauty come back to life!!

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you so much!☺️ really glad you’re enjoying them.

[@jillgott6567]

So much work to be done but I am on pins and needles to see your accomplishments step by step. Inspiring to me

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you for the lovely comment! 😊

[@donaldauguston9740]

I think they were laid there to keep the curb stones upright. The curbstones are there to keep the rest of the other square stones in place. Whomever did this work was a master-craftsperson; they are really beautiful. DA

[@theoldstationrenovation]

They absolutely are beautiful

[@evilborg]

I'm pretty sure there was driveway of some sort and those pavers was the gutter for water run off. Maybe a hard pack drive to drop off the passengers?

[@sshaw4429]

The extra pavers were just to keep it tidy. The dirt is just from lack of care and caused by runoff. Much like peoples sidewalks they don’t trim. You need to set up a patreon system so people can donate. AND get Black and Decker Trimmer and blower (battery powered and female friendly) for easier cleanup. Dry clean always works best. But the gas powered ones are heavy, hard to start. Appeal to Jackery and Ecoflow for battery systems. Great job! You will have great content for months and years to come.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thanks for the tip, you may have noticed we like battery powered lightweight tools that are easy to use. Being pretty much unskilled we find them easier to use. I know we’ll have to get professionals in soon to do big jobs but we’re having fun at the moment. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@zoerochelle]

Wow. Your subscriber count is finally gaining quickly! The more personal videos are making a big difference. As an early subscriber, I’m happy you are getting recognized. This is a fascinating project and your channel will do well with the right videos.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you for so much for sticking with us, I’m so pleased you’re enjoying the videos 😊

[@catherinewardwell2117]

I love how your dogs hang out and watch the action!

[@theoldstationrenovation]

My wife has just ordered a dog harness for the camera… prepare for a dogs eye view of the station and grounds (in reality I’m sure it’ll just be footage of them sniffing each other and peeing!)

[@glyndevonport7802]

Definitely an original gutter and kerbstones for the station forecourt. It wold have originally been stone flags where the concrete flags outside the building nd cobblestones for the road surface. A previous owner most likely lifted the stone flags and cobbles to sell on to restorers or developers for quite a tidy sum, then replaced the stone lags with much cheaer concrete flagstones destroying the character, looks and history of the frontage.

[@user-cn8pi8qd3b]

I absolutely love videos uncovering history!

[@larryyoung7288]

This is an example of a curb and gutter. Still used today, only with a concrete formed profile. Highly probable that a driveway of some sort was adjacent to it. Rainwater would flow down across the driveway surface & get caught in the curb and gutter which was slopped down to a low point, such as the ponds. Was common then & still is. Brilliant design using gravity & simplicity. Kept water away from the building.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Lovely bit of insight, thank you! 😊

[@sshaw4429]

That pond area will be beautiful!!!❤❤

[@christopherforster6555]

Excellent property well done you will have fun doing it up thanks.

[@tboettge2]

Wow boy did your followers explode and comments section. Happy to see that for you.

[@Susan.I]

Natural slate makes a beautiful roof!

[@geneard639]

My family is Railroad and, yeah every old station I've been to has a curb at the edge of the walk, and beyond its wood block, cobblestone, concrete slab or asphalt. Considering where you are at? I would not be surprised if that Tarmac is from the original Tarmac company. The dirt is exactly what others are saying, decomposed leaves and soil migrating during rain storms.

[@mariaflorzinha1]

These leaves are a great fertilizer.

[@Lee.Willcox]

My wife says "WE" when she tells people what "I" have been doing working on our house 😆 This is a wonderful video, I will catch up on the previous. I love seeing people's dreams come true. I love trains too, in fact, I chose our current house (hopefully the final one) because there is a railway line at the bottom of our garden and from time to time there are steam engines coming past with day trips and it includes the Orient Express. What a sight, smell and sound to see.

[@Lee.Willcox]

Oooops, I spoke to soon. Sorry 😆 There you are with spade in hand. Well done, I will show my Mrs ! 🤭

[@Lee.Willcox]

The slabs are for drainage/gutter. Lovely !

[@theoldstationrenovation]

That’s amazing! What a treat. We live near a line at the moment and we occasionally have steam engines coming though, always big news in the village!

[@GunnerAl9]

Install a pump and filter system into the pond and get the water moving and the smell and muck will go away. Use solar power and a battery to keep it running using dual speed system, low at night to just keep the water moving and during the day time have it set on medium or high flow and you can have a water feature like a vase, flower pot or statue pouring water into the bond. Then bird will start to use it to keep the bugs out and add fish to each up the algae. It could look beautiful and useful for the property. Create a small wishing well at the end of the pond for visitors to throw coins into that is separated from the pond but uses the same system for flow and cleaning. Use the coins for maintenance of the pond and wishing well. A lot of wedding venues in the U.S.A. use this method for the cost of maintenance.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

A wishing well! Very clever. Greetings from south Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿! Thank you for the advice with the pond, we’d love to have ducks and fish and attracting wind birds would be a real bonus.

[@54mgtf22]

The old kerb and gutter. Great job. Greetings from Australia. My 130 year old home has the same Welsh slate on the roof.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Wow, what a journey for that slate to have gone on… and of course everyone knows the best slate comes from Wales! Thanks for watching👍

[@glenjarnold]

We have a yew tree at least 100 years old on the edge of our drive. A few years ago our sewer drain became blocked. Upon investigation, we found that one of the yew tree roots had grown and broken into the drain. Not only that, it had gone along the drain and then up the cast iron drain pipe at the side of the house around 15 feet up!

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Oh no, what a nightmare! I bet that took some sorting out 😦

[@glenjarnold]

@@theoldstationrenovation Luckily I've a mate who sorted it out!

[@juliemarriott7395]

And... the big question is, did they lay modern slabs over old flagstones, next to the ones you have found. We had a house with a patio, laid over a patio 😅

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I’ll be lifting some of the slabs to get rid of the roots, I’ll have a look while I’m down there and let you know 😃

[@mary-annegodfrey6766]

That was my thought too.

[@Ragnar8504]

One German KZbinr had a patio over a patio over a patio. The top layer was considerably higher than the sill of his timber framed house. Obviously the sill was completely rotten. In the backfill underneath the three layers of patios he found loads of scrap and garbage, including a rusty bicycle frame.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Goodness me! What a bizzare thing to do 🤷‍♂️

[@Ragnar8504]

@@theoldstationrenovation The previous owners of his house had some seriously questionable work done in the early 80s, including burying any scrap metal they could find around the farm in the ground and in concrete slabs. Or hiding rot in structural timbers with concrete and/or expanding foam and brown paint.

[@jeanettemullins]

If you are digging out a lot of roots in the future can I suggest a Rootslayer spade. It's a long spade that essentially has a saw up each side. I've had one for a few years and it's been so useful in combination with saws and a small chainsaw. The rootslayer will go through a lot of the smaller roots and you can cut through mid size roots in a few attempts most of the time.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Just googled it, amazing bit of kit! Thanks very much for the tip 👍

[@NilZed1]

It’s a curb, your driveway probably was a tarmac drive for carriages and cars came up what’s now the drive and alongside the station there, pulled up to the pavement to drop off/pick up passengers and trunks then exited out to the road on the other side of the fence. I agree with others it probably wasn’t actively covered, just not actively kept clear. It’s 40+ years of accumulated leaf mould.

[@EmbraceTheJourney]

Looking better every day.

[@davidmsirois]

This property is going to look so good when you are done... I'm so excited to see the journey

[@Angie-cm4si]

You are doing really well on your editing skills....the algorithm is working in your favour it shouldn't be long before your channel starts to generate an income towards this amazing venture .....every little bit will help...💜

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you, I’m glad you think so. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into the videos and think they’ve improved so much. It only really started as a way to track our progress, it’s very humbling that so many people have taken an interest.

[@Burghealthchiro]

You guys may want to consider a mini excavator. It looks like a lot of land needs clearing and digging. Excellent work today. It looks like a curb and was probably ground level

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Definitely, at the moment we’re enjoying having a little dig around and doing some clearing but we’ll absolutely need some heavy metal in here to make serious progress!

[@barbarawhite7337]

Unfortunately any heavy equipment poses the potential for damage to the integrity of the history they are trying to conserve.

[@asatimmins3696]

Hiya folks you have started to expose the old station forecourt. The slabs you have cleaned of are old fashioned kerb stones laid on their side against the kerbs marking your road and footpath boundary. They are put down in that way to act as as drainage channels for surface water runoff.

[@scopex2749]

OMG YOU LUCKY LUCKY PEOPLE - JEALOUS! This is the one building I have craved to buy and restore since I was a child and Beeching DESTROYED our railway network. I always promised my self to lay a stretch of track and have a carriage or loco in there! There is such a station in Hampshire thats now a private house he has a lovely restored carriage in the garden on tracks! WELL DONE. I hope you also add the original platform canopy ? AND you have a bridge!!! 1:23 I reckon I know what you have there - thats NOT a pond - depending on what line you were on THAT could be a water trough. High speed express trains could scoop up water without stopping by lowering a scoop under the tender to force water up into the tank. the troughs were several yards long. A common practice when updating a station was to tarmac OVER cobble stones! It is possible that is whats been done here as the original station forecourts this close to the station - were generally cobbled.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

We don’t own the bridge, it’s the boundary of the land. That’s really a good thing because we get all the benefit of having such a beautiful feature to look at but we won’t be on the hook for a repairs! A few comments have mentioned putting a carriage on the line. At first it seemed like an impossible idea but who knows! Thank you so much for watching! 😊

[@vkchaudhary3614]

It's a beautiful building and well built. Consider yourself lucky

[@theoldstationrenovation]

We were very lucky to find this place and we’re going to do our very best to give it the attention it deserves 😊

[@featheredskeptic1301]

The slabs could serve as some sort of a frame for the path. Something that's supposed to keep everything else from shifting and moving around.

[@d.l.harrington4080]

I think your pond is an old cannel. You may want to do some research on that as Britian really has a lot of cannels. They may clean it up for you. It seems to me that where there were cannels, there are train tracks. I will be following your progress.

[@hanneliewiese3477]

Looking sooo good already !

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you!! 😃

[@aliceshepheard-walwyn3409]

Keep all that lovely nutrient-rich soil as compost! You’d pay good money for bags of stuff that wouldn’t be half as good from your garden centre. My top tip is don’t throw anything from the garden away until you’re sure you won’t be able to reuse it.

[@espowari]

So glad to have found your channel. Congratz on 10K subscribers! Looking forward to the renovation. Perhaps a rental of a digger of some sort and hiring of a removal skip for a day or 2 for all the debris would be in order...? KZbin ideas... if possible, tack on Episode # at the end of the title. I have had a difficult time figuring out what order to watch them in. Also, you may want to create a 'watch everything from the start' playlist. Really enjoying the progress, and looking forward to the renovation no matter how long it takes! :>

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thanks for the tip. I have created a 'Play in Order' playlist.

[@Deaanl1]

Please make longer episodes, i absolutely love watching hour long episodes. Show us absolutely everything. We want to know absolutely everything and see more of this beautiful property. Hint if you do fewer voice overs and speak directly to the camera "vlog format" that way you will build a stronger relationship with your subscribers. We want to get to know you ❤

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you so much, we’re alway happy to hear what people think. We’re amazed we’ve got the videos up to the 20 minute mark and I hope as we go on we will have enough to make them longer 😊

[@davidparr2001]

The original level its been paved over, could be original flags under your concrete slabs😮

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I’ll have to lift some of the slabs to deal with the roots, I’ll have a look while I’m down there 🤞🤞

[@garymason7]

Yay I love finding channels that are at the beginning of a big project. Station and grounds look amazing and look forward to seeing what you do with it.

[@jackstone4291]

Great home improvement project to do together as a family !

[@billybike57]

What a wonderful surprise! !

[@challis5513]

There must be a way to make longer episodes. People want to see every corner of that place. Even the stuff you find in attic, storage rooms etc. Plz take us on walks for different views of your place.... Super jealous of your purchase

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thanks for this, always worry things will be boring, we will definitely film more of the little things 👍

[@challis5513]

@@theoldstationrenovation so glad you read the comments, I think on this channel you will have people fascinated by the building, plants, wood work, history, renovations and so much more. Did your station have a name in the past? I hope you do find relics of that stations past. Very fascinated by your bridge. Even my wife has been putting her phone down to watch your episodes and I have heard her "oooohing" and "aaaahing" on a few occasions. Really a great thing you have going here!!

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Yeah, it was Wenvoe. It was opened, I believe as a line to bring coal from the south Wales valleys to the docks in Barry.

[@SpanishEclectic]

What a lot of work! It's cleaning up nicely.

[@studioblues]

Hi, great purchase......It is meant for the rain water drain towards the lower part, there might be a Manhole at the end .

[@philipbenson8644]

The slabs you uncovered are simply the original drainage so water ran away from the area immediately Infront of the station and i know people have suggested lifting the slabs to level them personally i wouldn't because the age of them they are likely to break get proper brass nails and it really must be brass drill into the root and drive in the nails as far as possible this will kill the root completely stop it from returning and in about 18 months it will be gone without damaging anything hopefully this helps and I've had a lifelong passion about railway buildings im pretty jealous i would love to be in your position all the best

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you for the tip about the roots. There are loads that have grown between the platform slabs too so solutions are really helpful.

[@janedale8567]

I came across your video yesterday as I was scrolling. A few miles away from where I live is a restored railway station building abd station masters house in Legbourne in Lincs. Still has a raised platform and crossing gate and lamps.

[@longie751]

Looks like it's going to be hard work but worth the reward 👍👍 little tip, don't use an axe for chopping roots, buy a mattock, looks like a pick axe but has a blade, one end & spade like on the other, also using a chainsaw in and around tree roots, the soil will clog & blunt your blade in seconds 👍 Cheers Dave

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thanks for watching and the tips

[@RylanceStreet]

Where the tarmac goes over the slabs on the curve at the end I would use a masonry disc in an angle grinder to carefully cut off the overlapping bit to leave a smooth curved edge to the tarmac and a consistent width for the gutter. Would improve the look no end, especially after you have cleaned all the mud off the rest of the tarmac.

[@Tindog81476]

Hello just discovered your channel today, I guess you got recommended in my feed with the french chateau renovations I've been watching. Those pavers along the edges look like they were the gutter for a road. So my guess is you had a road that went around the edge of the station. That may also explain all the gravel just outside of the curb. I would say if you don't need the space in front of the building for a road you could put a waist-high hedge or wall-like object around the pavers and make a public-private space where you could put tables and things to sit at.

[@dinmorejunctionmodelrailway]

The lower 1ft wide slabs running alongside the patio where put the to hold the lawn back from the patio so the lawn mower could pass over the edge of the lawn.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Ah, that makes sense. It didn’t occur to me there could have been a lawn there 👍

[@ChrisWijtmans]

the building actually has cornerstones. When people knew how to build well. (Nothing in my house is squared, drives me nuts)

[@kennethmcintyre2847]

Forgot to add, always clear away soil from anything you may want to use your chain saw on. Soil will always blunt the teeth on a chain soil. Double handling on the soil removal.

[@michaeldowson6988]

Too late; the saw is already dull.

[@ScottishNSRailFan]

@@michaeldowson6988 you can purchase a priority tool to assist in sharpening the teeth. I do the sharpening by hand

[@kimratto271]

It’s a rain gutter. The platform itself is slightly tilted so the water drains over the curb.thus the narrow channel at the end.

[@_PJW_]

Everything is just fully overgrown, from pavers to pond. The pavers were not just there for keeping water away from the building, but also to have a nice transition from lawn to path allowing for easy maintenance. They were much cleverer those days than we give them credit to. I wonder what is beneath that tarmac. I'd get rid of the tarmac it asap, and replace it with gravel. I'm very much looking forward to you clearing up both pond and surroundings.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thanks for watching

[@madhatter1787]

The slabs at the bottom are paver edging. This was the original method and still used today to keep the barrier Wall from getting out of line. Nowadays they use PVC or other materials to line the pavers so they don't fall out of place. The good thing is that because they've been there for so long the pressure against the wall is immense. So removing the slabs to replace them shouldn't pose any kind of impact on any of the walls.

[@deliveryguy7402]

It looks like a gutter system. In the states, we install gutter systems along our roads so debris from storms can be got up easier.

[@eattherich9215]

I hate to tell you, and you probably know this any way, but the root has probably made it's way well beyond the platform and maybe into the foundations.

[@Tretz624]

These slabs appear to be a ditch or gutter. It should run along to some sort of drain to drain rain water away from the building.

[@am-jddr]

I love the fact that you love this station so much I'm absolutely fascinated and keep thinking what your gonna find.its also awesome of you to share this venture with you I love it.thankyou

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you, we really do! Welcome aboard 😊 🚂

[@dillontesmer6533]

Good day, thank you for the update. The covering of the gutter(flagstones) could also be the natural uplift of the lawn due to regrowth. My humble suggestion is that you bring in a skid steer and drop this area to just below the upper level of the flag stone or to pave it as it may have been done in Victorian times🤷🏼‍♂️ Secondly to create more effective drainage coming off your long driveway. All the best for your family project had have a blessed 2024🙏🏻

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Yeah, I think we’ve pretty much reached the limit of what can achieve but mucking about with shovels. We’ll be hiring in some machinery like you’ve suggested to really get through it!

[@stephenclegg4249]

Love the way you keep saying WE 😂 and looks like the older patio from station days and new one as been built on top rather them removing old one.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

I really hope so, that would be such a bonus! And it’s the Royal ‘we’ 🤣

[@mickjmcgregor4384]

The slabs stop the edging sinking away an plants rooting down like thistles and dandilions and others making for easy removal .

[@mrtablet4662]

Not sure why YT suggested the channel but I have watched all videos tonight and subbed. Good luck peoples.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

YT works in mysterious ways😂 Thanks very much for watching 👍

[@brendahaire8824]

I can’t wait to see the outcome of this project

[@ncc74656m]

It's "easy" to turn that pond into something like a natural swimming pool if you want. (I say "easy" because it is a lot of work but they become self maintaining with just a little input.) Mapperton did theirs and it worked out wonderfully. It might be a consideration at some point.

[@highpath4776]

Driveway looks like it will need chippings. Others have said the half flags are a "gutter" for water run off, and they might be right, Loughton Station (and car park) (Great Eastern Railway) is similar

[@patriciapadgett4696]

Hola from Spain. Fabulous place, and you dont look fazed by all the hard work. I thought, as someone else mentioned that maybe the slabs continue under the pathway , that would be amazing. Im sure there will be other great finds. Good luck ❤

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Hola! We love a bit of hard work, actually find it very therapeutic after spending all day in an office. Gracias ☺️

[@catgynt9148]

This will be quite an interesting undertaking. Where exactly is your station located? While collecting Winston’s ball we got a peak of the roof. Is the roof slate or some composite added during the 1980’s renovation? I used to volunteer at an arboretum that had several buildings as old as your station. They used copper flashings and a copper ridge cap. When I asked why copper and not another metal I was instructed that the green patina on copper is copper sulfate; as rain washes across the patina the copper sulfate coats the roof and discourages the growth of moss and other invasive plants. Long story short, I thought to do something similar on my mother’s house. The north and eastern roof facets were in shade and it was an annual event brushing off the moss. I was all set until I discovered he exorbitant price of copper. Ultimately I took two rolls of pennies, a copper coated zinc coin. On the top two rows of shingles I slipped a penny a bit under the shingle edge. Her moss never returned.! Wishing you and your family a blessed new year and a memorable family journey during reconstruction. Tell your husband to use one of the bamboo poles to balance while wading in your green ponds. Peace

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Hi, it’s in South Wales. That’s a really interesting story about the copper, what a clever way to keep growth off! The roof tiles are slate, I’m really pleased with them having had a close look.

[@catgynt9148]

@@theoldstationrenovation Greetings from across the “pond”. I am located near the southern shore of Lake Erie in the US state of Ohio. We are due south of the Canadian province of Ontario. Wishing you and your family a blessed new year filled with a joyful station recovery. Peace

[@TC-qd1zw]

Remember the tree root spreads at least twice as the height of the tree. So if the tree is twenty foot high the root spreads out over forty feet.

[@user-fk9mz3vu9k]

Please strongly consider wearing safety glasses when working with power tools. You seem like wonderful people I am just concerned for your safety and well being. Keep up the good work.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

A few people have pointed this out, quite rightly. You can tell I’m an absolute beginner! Safety glasses ordered👍

[@CYZMIK]

What a fantastic project. You certainly have your work cut out but just wait for the day you all move in! I look forward to seeing the progress. Good luck.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you, actually moving into the building feels like the end of long tunnel (excuse the pun) from where we're stood at the moment.... but there is light!

[@CYZMIK]

@@theoldstationrenovationjust keep taking the little steps & the path will guide you 😂 it’s going to look amazing I’m sure!

[@ErichPhillips-jq7lv]

I'm so envious of you. But good look with the renovation, I can't wait to see the progress.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@stalker6036]

A bridge and a pond in the property. How lucky you are.

[@DB2hull]

Great find and in excellent condition.

[@JesMuse74]

The line of papers aside the curbstones is the gutter. Notice they are at a slight angle? They are there to drain rainwater.

[@JesMuse74]

Pavers not papers

[@kennethmcintyre2847]

Great to see another video. You need to get the right tools for all the tasks you are going to encounter. First the rounded spade is not for digging and for extra leverage you need a proper length handle on the flat spade. My wife and I took on a mammoth task almost fifty years ago, 1975, upgrading what is still our home. We took on house improvements, major landscaping and outbuilding works. Was a surveyor by profession, so we did most of the works between us. We needed assistance with plumbing and electrics only. Good luck on you adventure. Love the Welsh slate on your roofs. Scottish slate is rubbish.

[@theoldstationrenovation]

You’ve got us bang to rights there! We’re complete amateurs pretty much using the tools we had for our normal sized garden, clearly not going to cut it here 😂

[@Thunderer0872]

As already mentioned on the roadside slabs off the kerb stones that's the run off or early gutter as the road wouldn't have been paved or tarmacked when they built the station these allowed water to run off.