gate:gates

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gate:gates [2025/12/09 10:03] – Dave Darbygate:gates [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Gates & stiles+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Gates & stiles ======
  
  
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-## What are gates & stiles?+===== What are gates & stiles? =====
  
 Gates are thresholds, and a way of letting humans, animals and vehicles in and out of an area surrounded by a fence, hedge or wall. Gates are thresholds, and a way of letting humans, animals and vehicles in and out of an area surrounded by a fence, hedge or wall.
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 <caption> <caption>
-A very simple step-over stile in the Shetlands. Source: [Etan Tal](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Etan_J._Tal), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode)g+_A very simple step-over stile in the Shetlands. Source: [Etan Tal](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Etan_J._Tal), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode)g_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-Bridle gate, that can be opened on horseback. Source: [Roger Kidd](https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/12192), [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)+_Bridle gate, that can be opened on horseback. Source: [Roger Kidd](https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/12192), [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/)_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of gates & stiles?+===== What are the benefits of gates & stiles? =====
  
 As the quote at the top says, gates can be both sustainable and supportive of the local economy. You can buy sturdy wooden or metal gates from farm supply companies. But if you’re a smallholder interested in supporting your local economy and woodland, you might be able to get gates made from local hardwood (rather than from treated softwood from Scandinavia, that you might get from big farm suppliers), from your local forestry outlet / sawmill. Rather than just supplying timber and firewood, they often add value by making gates – often for the same price as mass-produced gates. They’ll probably be able to make bespoke gates to your specifications. As the quote at the top says, gates can be both sustainable and supportive of the local economy. You can buy sturdy wooden or metal gates from farm supply companies. But if you’re a smallholder interested in supporting your local economy and woodland, you might be able to get gates made from local hardwood (rather than from treated softwood from Scandinavia, that you might get from big farm suppliers), from your local forestry outlet / sawmill. Rather than just supplying timber and firewood, they often add value by making gates – often for the same price as mass-produced gates. They’ll probably be able to make bespoke gates to your specifications.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Kissing gate. Source: [Acabashi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Acabashi), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode)+_Kissing gate. Source: [Acabashi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Acabashi), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode)_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Whether you buy in gates, or make your own, you can make fence posts and gates last twice as long with a couple of additions. The tops of the posts / gates are open to the sun and rain. They can crack and allow water in – so you can put a cap of scrap lead on the top, which will keep the sun and rain out, and poison any fungus or lichens. Whether you buy in gates, or make your own, you can make fence posts and gates last twice as long with a couple of additions. The tops of the posts / gates are open to the sun and rain. They can crack and allow water in – so you can put a cap of scrap lead on the top, which will keep the sun and rain out, and poison any fungus or lichens.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Clapper stile.+_Clapper stile._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 For posts that go into the ground, it’s good to use oak. If you buy it, it will be twice the price – but it will last more than twice as long. Posts are most vulnerable a few cm above the ground, and again, a little ring of scrap lead will kill fungus etc. that might eat away at the wood. For posts that go into the ground, it’s good to use oak. If you buy it, it will be twice the price – but it will last more than twice as long. Posts are most vulnerable a few cm above the ground, and again, a little ring of scrap lead will kill fungus etc. that might eat away at the wood.
  
-### Making gates+==== Making gates ====
  
 The simplest way to make gates is with cleft oak or chestnut – i.e. not using a saw, but splitting logs lengthways, into 1/8, 1/16, or even 1/32, depending on the diameter of the log. Oak and chestnut are the most durable, but you can make gates from any wood. Dafydd of Felin Uchaf has made ash gates that he’s replaced after 5 years, but also oak gates that are still going strong after 30 years. The simplest way to make gates is with cleft oak or chestnut – i.e. not using a saw, but splitting logs lengthways, into 1/8, 1/16, or even 1/32, depending on the diameter of the log. Oak and chestnut are the most durable, but you can make gates from any wood. Dafydd of Felin Uchaf has made ash gates that he’s replaced after 5 years, but also oak gates that are still going strong after 30 years.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Home-made gate to keep chickens out of the garden. Source: [Lackan Cottage Farm](https://lackancottage.co.uk/)+_Home-made gate to keep chickens out of the garden. Source: [Lackan Cottage Farm](https://lackancottage.co.uk/)_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-The Balearic Islands are famous for beautiful, gnarly, olive-wood gates. Source: [Isidre Blanc](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Isidre_blanc), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)+_The Balearic Islands are famous for beautiful, gnarly, olive-wood gates. Source: [Isidre Blanc](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Isidre_blanc), [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Hanging gates+==== Hanging gates ====
  
 It might take from 2 hours to half a day to hang a gate well, so that it swings nicely and balances well. This includes digging holes for gate posts or drilling holes in stone gate posts. It might take from 2 hours to half a day to hang a gate well, so that it swings nicely and balances well. This includes digging holes for gate posts or drilling holes in stone gate posts.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Detail of gate hinge. There’s a vertical pin that fits through an eye on the gate bolt / bracket – the gate is lifted on, and is kept in place by gravity.+_Detail of gate hinge. There’s a vertical pin that fits through an eye on the gate bolt / bracket – the gate is lifted on, and is kept in place by gravity._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 <caption> <caption>
-From the top: squeeze stile, ladder stile, stone step stile.+_From the top: squeeze stile, ladder stile, stone step stile._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [A Stile Guide](https://www.countrylife.co.uk/country-life/country-crossings-stile-guide-128113) - [A Stile Guide](https://www.countrylife.co.uk/country-life/country-crossings-stile-guide-128113)
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 - [Rustic garden gate building](https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/rustic-gate-zv0z1512zsgre/) - [Rustic garden gate building](https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/rustic-gate-zv0z1512zsgre/)
  
-## Specialists+ 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [Dry stone walling](drys:dry_stone_walling) 
 +- [Hedges](hedg:hedges) 
 +- [Hurdles](hrdl:hurdles) 
 +- [Keeping livestock](livs:livestock) 
 +- [Meadows, grass & pasture](mdws:meadows) 
 +- [Smallholding](smho:smallholding) 
 +- [Walking / hiking](walk:walking) 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • gate/gates.1765274629.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/09 10:03
  • by Dave Darby