by Alan Quick

WORKS to rebuild a collapsing cob wall at St Swithun’s Church, Shobrooke have been completed.

The work involved rebuilding the stone base, topping with cob and then capping with Roman tiles to make the wall water tight.

The works were undertaken by local builder John Tandy assisted by many volunteers, including some recently from DCH (Devon and Cornwall Housing), the building firm constructing homes at Tarka View opposite the Crediton Tesco store at Wellparks.

PCC member, Lesley Browne, recently explained: "The wall has listed status so it is important that is was restored to its original state.

"There have been a number of fundraising events and some generous donations which have secured £4,000 towards the rebuild costs.

"Grant applications to the Rowan Bentall charitable trust and the Church Care Trust have been successful to gain the remaining monies required, but volunteer help was much-needed to keep the costs within budget when further unstable sections of the wall had to be removed.

"We finally finished the final lift and the cob walling part is now complete.

"We will need to protect this from the worst of the rain, but once it has dried sufficiently, the capping tiles will be reinstated and all will be complete.

"This would not have been achieved without the hard work of the volunteers who helped and they can be really proud of creating a lasting legacy and helping to restore part of the village heritage."