The ring board.

Next we filled all the open spaces between the gravel boards and posts with a mortar mix. This was tricky the gaps where quite narrow and deep. A pair of trowels were great for cutting thin slices of mortar and slipping them into the gap. Next we were ready to install our ring beam. I had purchased some 3x2 treated timber and was going to screw this down broad side to the post tops. Drilling down into the post tops took some time and you have to be careful not hit the steel reinforcing bars. Use a good masonry drill and take it steady don't let it get to hot and ruin the drill. I had some masonry screws the type that don't need plugs just drill the right size hole and drive them in. These are amazing fixings and pull up tight with very little effort. The timber had to be joined down the long sides. Rather than mess about with any fancy joints we just splinted it with a 2 foot piece of 3x2. After we got all the way round I installed some 90 steel brackets to further secure the corners.