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08/15/2017 12:00 AMRecently Branford residents were informed and entertained at a presentation sponsored by the Branford Historical Society featuring Andrew Pighills, a local stone artisan. His slideshow followed the development and evolution of stone walls and structures in England and New England from Colonial times to the present day. He compared and contrasted geology, building styles, and techniques and explained how they fit into the garden and wider landscape past and present.
His knowledge of the subject was extensive and his demeanor was charming and delightful. He showed the ingenuity and craftsmanship that went into construction of the stone walls and structures of then and now.
In his words, “the more I can make their history a part of our lives, the better chance there is of preserving this wonderful heritage for future generations.”
Born in Yorkshire, England, Pighills is an accomplished stone artisan, gardener, and horticulturist. He received his formal horticulture training with The Royal Horticultural Society and has spent more than 40 years creating gardens and building dry stone walls in his native England. Today, Pighills is one of a small, but dedicated group of US-based, certified, professional members of The Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain. Having moved to the United States over a decade ago, he continues this venerable craft here, building dry stone walls and stone structures and creating gardens throughout New England and beyond.
If you missed this program, it can be viewed online on the Branford Community Television website. Please go to www.branfordtv.org Select WATCH and scroll down to ONLINE. Select the HISTORY section and click on the Andrew Pighills video.