Then & Now

‘Clappergate’ Stile – Then & Now

Copy of old post card of 'Tumbledown stile' or 'Clappergate Stile’
Copy of old post card of ‘Tumbledown stile’ or ‘Clappergate Stile’

In the days when the Abbey Fields was a patchwork of farmers’ fields, the ‘tumbledown’ or ‘clappergate’ stile shown in this old postcard was situated in the Abbey’s Tantara Gatehouse to prevent cattle straying out of the fields. A larger field gate was situated in the main archway.

In June 1973 it was destroyed by vandals. Cyril Hobbins collected the remaining bits together and restored it. The restored clapper-gate is now situated in the ‘barn’ museum.

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