Shepherds Hut

We have been lucky enough to take an original Shepherds hut into stock.
Originally used to accommodate shepherds through sheep raising and lambing, these moveable huts provided practical shelter. They were commonly used throughout the 19th Century but their popularity dwindled in the 20th Century with the increased use of farm machinery and with even remote farms receiving electric power.
The Shepherd Hut that we have here had been settled within local woodland and left static for some time.
A tractor, a telehandler, many men, numerous tools and a lot of will power managed to release the hut from its position and transport it to our yard here in Winchcombe.
This example has metal walls with a corrugated iron roof sat upon a wooden frame and iron wheels.
Although it is a compact little structure, it is full of character! Just waiting for our joiner to carry out some loving repairs....


Should this be of interest to you please feel free to contact us to discuss further 01242 609564 or sales@wr.uk.com

Christmas Time

Things here have been particularly busy recently with stock flying in and out of the yard, a number of continuing demolition jobs and ongoing orders. We have, however, found a little time for Christmas!
The showroom has been given a Winter spruce-up and, with the addition of some new items and gift ideas, now has a festive feel.

As people are trending away from big brand names and flashy presents, unusual and quirky items are becoming more popular and a reclamation yard is the ideal place to pick up something unique.

Here are just a few ideas from our current stock:

Candle holders from £15






 Storage ideas from just £10






There are still a couple of shopping weeks left until the 'Big Day' and you will find us open until December 20th.
We will be taking our two week Christmas shutdown as usual closing at 4pm on Friday 20th December and re-opening on Monday 6th January.

Orders for materials such as building and walling stone, Cotswold stone tiles and York flags are already adding up for the new year so, if you have any confirmed jobs for 2014, we would encourage you to place orders with us as soon as possible. Any materials ordered and paid for before Christmas will be stored here, fully insured, free of charge until the end of January.

We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Demolition done....

Having been left derelict for some time and in order to accommodate the expansion of a nearby supermarket, it was deemed necessary for this building to be demolished. We undertook the demolition work of this and an adjacent outbuilding in our normal way - to dismantle the
property by hand and salvage as much of the building material as possible.
Firstly, the slates were removed from the roof and brought into stock here at the yard. The roof timbers will also be processed here and re-used.A large quantity of stone was reclaimed from this job including walling stone which has gone on to be used for various landscaping projects and good stocks of Cotswold building stone. The building stone was hand sorted as we worked, with the majority being sold straight from site.There was a good quantity of early handmade bricks generated from the rear of the property which were an exact match to a couple of nearby jobs. These, therefore, didn't have to travel far and will be used for various repair works to boundary walls and walled gardens.
Access to this site was, on ocassions, a little tight and awkward and the British weather was unreliable as usual, but an unexpected visitor brightened up the first week. A young falcon startled the guys when it flew into the windscreen of our telehandler and stunned itself.
After being moved to safety (and a quick photo) the bird made a full recovery and soon took flight......

What's New?

We are always looking for fresh ideas and new ways for us to connect with our customers. This can be anything from updating our website and being involved with the world of social media to advertising and displaying new stock. Here are just a few things that we have been up to recently:

Room 101- We are forever being complimented on being one of the tidiest reclamation yards in the country with everything displayed neatly. But we still find there are ocassional items that just don't seem to find a place. This could be surplus stock, single odd items and general bits and pieces of building material that we accumalate over time. So, we have created 'Room 101' - a section on the website dedicated to move such things out of the yard. New items are uploaded here on a regular basis (often at reduced prices!) and there is a facility to purchase online. So, click here to have a look and see if anything catches your eye - we may just have exactly what you have been searching for, or you may spot a bargain that can't be missed.

Newsletter - We have started to send out a newsletter and there's no better way to keep our customers up to date with whats going on. These are sent out on a random basis, meaning we will only bother you when there is exciting news to share rather than cluttering up your inbox with repetitive sales jargon. The aim is to let people know of any interesting upcoming projects and give exclusive notice of materials due into stock. It couldn't be easier to join up for this - simply visit our website and click on the mailing list button.........

Showroom- Although we specialise in reclaimed building materials, it isn't only bricks and stone here. We also come across interior fittings, furniture and garden features. The inside showroom has been given a 'Spring clean' to display our range of reclaimed timbers, fireplaces and furniture and you're more than should be coming into stock soon so when you're ready to tackle Christmas shopping, you know where to start.....
welcome to come in and take a closer look. Small gift items suitable for Christmas

Website - There is always endless 'tweaking' with any website and ours is no different. Aside from adding details of any new stock, we have added some new features to keep it all up to date. We now have a search button and side menu to help navigate the increasingly large site, you can access all of our social media accounts directly from our home screen and don't forget you can now purchase things online through either the online store, WR Bazaar or Room 101. We believe that all these little things make a difference and hope you find it a pleasure to use. Why not click here and see what you think?
Oh, and while you have a spare minute (or when your boss isn't looking!) be sure to catch up with us on Facebook, Twitter and  Pinterest

Fireplaces

Now is the time to consider aything that may need doing to your fireplaces to ensure they are in working order, looking their best and ready for the colder season  which will soon be upon us. Maybe you have recently moved into a new property and can't bear to spend the Winter with that 1970's 'thing' in the corner, maybe you have been busy with renovation works throughout the Summer and have a newly discovered inglenook which had been hidden for years or maybe your current fireplace simply needs a little TLC before the family gathering at (dare I say it?!) Christmas.
There are many reclaimed materials available that could be used for such projects. We have a large range of reclaimed fireplaces in stock, from simple pine surrounds to original carved stone examples which would create a real focal point in any room.
Of course, you could build something to suit from scratch. Reclaimed quoins and building stone could be used beneath a large stone lintel to create a stone surround. Or maybe you would prefer brick uprights supporting a timber lintel in which case we have a range of reclaimed bricks available. From smooth faced wirecut bricks to slimmer handmade bricks which could be used for decorative brickwork such as a herringbone design; there is an extensive range available from our brickyard.
When it comes to selecting a timber lintel, you can take a look at our character beams. All of these have been processed by hand, treated and waxed ready to use - simply call in with the size that you require and select your favourite. We even have a number of large, curved beams in stock just waiting to go over an inglenook fireplace.
You also need to consider what to do for a hearth.Flagstones are a popular choice - they can be either random, rivened flags for a rustic finish or, if you are wanting to create a more formal look, reclaimed sawn York stone is a good option. We have also just taken delivery of a batch of large slate sheets which could be used. Once you have selected which material to use, we offer a cutting service if required.
Should you be unable to find the correct firplace from our stock here, our associated quarry offer a range of new Cotswold stone surrounds. These new stone fireplaces are cut to order - there are a number of designs to choose from and, as it is a bespoke service, measurements can be altered to suit your desired proportions.
As you know, the finishing touches can make a difference and we offer a collection of baskets, grates, decorative tiles and fenders to complete your project. Feel free to contact us with your requirements or, if possible, just call in and take a look around our yard for a little inspiration.

Swallow Update

Our resident swallows came back to nest in our showroom again this year. The first brood consisted of five chicks - all of which were raised safe and well and fledged earlier in the Summer.
We now have a second pair using an existing nest from last year. These chicks are being fed at an alarming rate by both parents - visitors beware of low flying birds in our timber section!
Three out of the five have survived this far and are on the brink of fledging the nest.....
They never stray too far in the first couple of days though - usually just line up along the rafters in our roof waiting to be fed with the occasional practice lap around the building!

All About....

Welsh Slates:

Natural slate has been used as a roof covering for centuries and Wels slate is known to be one of the best available; leading to its exportation Worldwide. Its natural, lightly riven surface and variation in colour give this product an aesthetic appeal which adds character to any roof.
There are three main colour variation, the most common being blue / grey but Welsh slate comes in a purple hue aswsell. The soft purple coloured slates are referred to as 'Heather' and the brighter, more pink coloured slates are known as 'blush'.
A number of different sizes are produced. Traditioanlly, each of these would have names such as 'Duchess' (24 x 12"), 'Countess' (20 x 10") or 'Viscountess' (18 x 9") but are nowadays simply referred to by size in inches...... read more...

Seasonal Projects - Summer

As Summer is now looking to be next weekend, we are probably too late to encourage you to do a large landscaping project but you may have time to:

 * Clear some space, ideally with a bit of shade. Find a chair or bench, cover with rugs and cushions and place near a table.
* Find the pots that you planted up earlier in the year, sigh heavily when you notice that you forgot to water / the slugs have dined on them and realise that you need to nip to the garden centre to buy something to replace them with. Return with a suspiciously artificial looking chilli pepper plant - it was the only thing that they had left.
* Level things up so that nothing wobbles - nothing like motion sickness to spoil a lazy sunny afternoon.
* In touch with both of your X chromosomes? Then get some fairy lights, tea lights and scented candles and scatter artfully. Use the pepper plant to inspire a Mexican theme.
* More in touch with your Y chromosome? Then manfully drag across a bucket and fill with ice and scatter beer cans artfully. Use the chillies in the 'man or mouse' competition.
* Take a photo to remind you of Summer 13
If you need help with tables, chairs, benches, troughs or pots; we have some in our yard available for this weekend.

Spring Has Finally Arrived!

Well, after what can only be described as a cold and miserable start to the year, we are now full of the joys of Spring here at Winchcombe Reclamation. The weather has, I feel, hindered some building jobs but everything now seems that little bit more positive and the odd bit of blue sky and warmer weather definately helps!
Along with the finer weather, our yard takes on a new life during the spring time.
The first instalment of this years stock of flowers and shrubs has arrived and adds a great splash of colour to our display of stoneware and garden items.Varieties available include many Japonicas, Carnations and Ceanothus to name but a few, all at reasonable prices.
Plants have been springing up everywhere recently with a number of troughs and  containers blooming again from previous years and new shoots coming to the trees along the river bank.
This natural environment is ideal for attracting wildlife. From the  trout in the stream at the bottom of the yard to the butterflys sunning themselves on the cotswold stone and the numerous birds that join us each spring.
Some of our regular customers will fondly recall our resident robin, 'Bob' who appears year in and  year out - ever present if you move a pallet in case it reveals any worms or insects!Also, I'm pleased to say that our swallows have returned to us for another year. We all get excited when we hear them arrive in the building after that unbelievably long journey.....
This year in particular we have a number of birds here and are discovering new nests pretty much on a daily basis. We try to work alongside our feathered friends so won't disturb any pallets where birds are nesting - this does however result in lost sales, for example the bluetits which nest inside a lamp post means that this won't be available for sale over the next few months!
As you may find hanging on the doors of luxury hotels, our yard is now littered with 'do not disturb' signs, protecting those nesting.

An exciting new addition to the wildlife here is a family of badgers and with our new toy of a trail camera we have been able to set up a 'badgercam' and see them in action. We hope to post updates of any activity here, on our blog...... our very own Springwatch!

Easter Opening:

We will be open as normal Good Friday and Easter Saturday but you will find us closed on Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.We wish all our customers a Happy Easter!

All About......

Reclaimed Paving:
Natural stone has been used as paving for centuries and the finest example of this is Yorkstone. This Yorkshire sandstone is known to have been quarried since the 1400's and by the eighteenth century had become a large industry providing flagstones, masonry and roofing materials. Appreciated for it's high quality and durability, Yorkstone was used throughout the country.

Today, the use of reclaimed York flagstones, with their warm, weathered patina of age, can add instant character to a space and even add value to a property.

At Winchcombe Reclamation, we always carry extensive stocks of reclaimed York with a minimum of 300 Msq available at any one time. Our stock includes high quality rivened Yor for external projects.........Read More...

Online Store

Our online store is up and running now offering our customers the convenience of shopping from home. Our yard stock of reclaimed materials isn't available to purchase here as, being reclaimed, it is recommended that they are seen first hand before buying to ensure happiness with colour, finish, condition etc. but the online store offers a range of new and reproduction items which can be delivered Nationwide.
Great care has been taken over selecting the suppliers of these products as we were mindful to supply the quality our customers expect along with traditional design and competitive pricing.
Our extensive range of ironmongery comprises of classic door and window furniture. These products are, admittedly, imported as many of their kind; but the difference is that they are then checked, hand finished and well packaged locally to be dispatched Nationwide along with a quality check tag. The designs are reassuringly traditional and of hard wearing, high quality and a full range of finishes is avialble from simple beeswax to rich pewter.
A range of specially selected sinks and taps is also available including the trustworthy belfast, various ceramic options, cast iron designs and more. Both conventional and modern taps and fittings can be found here too.
The hardwood flooring is really popular with many options to choose from. There are various widths available and finishes range from simply unfinished to dark, antique oak. Should you have underfloor heating, engineered boards are also offered.
Why not take a peek now? And don't forget to check on a regular basis as new products will be added in time.