Hello,

We have a stone post, roughly 4' tall by 1' by 1'. It's an old
gatepost but purely ornamental. It has two hinge pins inserted but the
bottom one is so near the base that it is buried. If the post was
raised sufficient to allow the bottom pin to be used, the post simply
would not be secure in the ground. So I can only imagine that the post
was originally bigger but some broke off the bottom, rendering it
ornamental only.

SWMBO wants to rearrange the garden and move this post to give us more
room. Obviously it is very heavy. What are the safe ways to move it?
Breaking it up (angle grinder!) is one option, but I am told these can
be sold, so keeping it intact might be better. That said, are they
only worth something when they can be used?

A farm jack could be used to lift it, only I don't own one and I they
seem to cost £75, which is a bit much for a one off job (and would I
need two: one for each end?).

I did buy an electric winch from Aldi a long time ago, thinking it
would be useful for something one day. I've never known what to secure
it to, to use it. I think the picture on the box shows it being used
to lift a car engine, which is something I have never done and I am
unlikely to ever do. Perhaps they think that people who know how to
disconnect engines will know how to fit a winch? Perhaps they think
mechanics will weld their own frame?

Perhaps a metal frame on wheels, designed that it will not topple
over, would work but as I have never welded it is outside my
capabilities. I guess another thing to consider with such a design
would be a way to brake the wheels to stop the frame running away and
running someone over or smashing into obstacles.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Stephen.