drys:dry_stone_walling

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drys:dry_stone_walling [2025/12/05 10:08] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1drys:dry_stone_walling [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Dry stone walling+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Dry stone walling ======
  
  
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-## What is dry stone walling?+===== What is dry stone walling? =====
  
 It's the building of walls from natural stone with no adhesive (i.e. cement or mortar). Dry stone walling techniques go back many thousands of years – the Pyramids, for example, were built using a form of very precise dry stone walling. There are walls on the island of Menorca dating from 1500BCE (see pic below). It's the building of walls from natural stone with no adhesive (i.e. cement or mortar). Dry stone walling techniques go back many thousands of years – the Pyramids, for example, were built using a form of very precise dry stone walling. There are walls on the island of Menorca dating from 1500BCE (see pic below).
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 ![dry-stone-walls-hillside](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry-stone-walls-hillside.jpg) ![dry-stone-walls-hillside](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry-stone-walls-hillside.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- Dry stone walls provide field boundaries and shelter for livestock, and they blend into the landscape beautifully because they are made of local, natural stone.+ _Dry stone walls provide field boundaries and shelter for livestock, and they blend into the landscape beautifully because they are made of local, natural stone._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![dry-stone-walls-tools](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry-stone-walls-tools.jpg) ![dry-stone-walls-tools](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry-stone-walls-tools.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- A selection of walling hammers on a section of new wall.+ _A selection of walling hammers on a section of new wall._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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-## What are the benefits of dry stone walling?+===== What are the benefits of dry stone walling? =====
  
 - Durable: should last for over 100 years without needing much attention. - Durable: should last for over 100 years without needing much attention.
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 ![dry-stone-walls-menorca](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry-stone-walls-menorca.jpg) ![dry-stone-walls-menorca](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry-stone-walls-menorca.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- This burial chamber with dry stone walls on the island of Menorca is around 3500 years old.+ _This burial chamber with dry stone walls on the island of Menorca is around 3500 years old._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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- +===== What can I do? =====
-## What can I do?+
  
 You can create livestock-proof boundaries on your land, and you can repair existing walls. You can also build dry stone features such as sculptures, arches, cairns and even sheds or bothies. You don’t need planning permission for dry stone structures. A [professional waller](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/career-change-interview-amanda-james-becoming-dry-stone-waller/) will put up about 2.5m of wall in a day, but the decision about whether to do the work yourself or hire a professional will probably depend on what you have more of – cash or time. You can create livestock-proof boundaries on your land, and you can repair existing walls. You can also build dry stone features such as sculptures, arches, cairns and even sheds or bothies. You don’t need planning permission for dry stone structures. A [professional waller](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/career-change-interview-amanda-james-becoming-dry-stone-waller/) will put up about 2.5m of wall in a day, but the decision about whether to do the work yourself or hire a professional will probably depend on what you have more of – cash or time.
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 ![dry_stone_walls-training](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry_stone_walls-training.jpg) ![dry_stone_walls-training](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry_stone_walls-training.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- Course participants building a wall using A-frames and string.+ _Course participants building a wall using A-frames and string._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
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 ![dry-stone-walls-repairs](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry-stone-walls-repairs.jpg) ![dry-stone-walls-repairs](https://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/dry-stone-walls-repairs.jpg)
 <caption> <caption>
- Dry stone wall before and after repair.+ _Dry stone wall before and after repair._
 </caption> </caption>
 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-There are lots more techniques involved in building dry stone walls, such as pinning and wedging to hold stones in place, bridged joins to ensure the wall’s strength, and trimming stones to shape and size. These skills are probably best obtained by doing rather than reading, and so attending a [course](/drys/dry_stone_walling) is probably a good idea. Other features can be incorporated into walls, such as stiles for people and holes for sheepdogs; and there are other styles of wall, such as single-skinned retaining walls, and Cornish and Welsh varieties that have turf or even hedges on top of the wall.+There are lots more techniques involved in building dry stone walls, such as pinning and wedging to hold stones in place, bridged joins to ensure the wall’s strength, and trimming stones to shape and size. These skills are probably best obtained by doing rather than reading, and so attending a course is probably a good idea. Other features can be incorporated into walls, such as stiles for people and holes for sheepdogs; and there are other styles of wall, such as single-skinned retaining walls, and Cornish and Welsh varieties that have turf or even hedges on top of the wall.
  
 Grants are available to farmers to build or repair dry stone walls under the [Environmental Stewardship](http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/es/default.aspx) scheme. Grants vary according to location, farming activity, etc. Grants are available to farmers to build or repair dry stone walls under the [Environmental Stewardship](http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/funding/es/default.aspx) scheme. Grants vary according to location, farming activity, etc.
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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 ===== 
 + 
 + 
 +- [Dry Stone Wallers Association](https://www.dswa.org.uk/) 
 +- [Mother Earth News](https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/how-to-build-a-dry-stone-wall/) - how to build a dry stone wall 
 +- [Ancient Origins](https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-americas/unravelling-mystery-behind-megalithic-stone-walls-saksaywaman-001470) - unlocking the mysteries of ancient Inca stone wall 
 +- [Walls Without Mortar](https://wallswithoutmortar.blogspot.com/) - Scottish master craftsman gathers examples of dry stone features around the world 
 +- [Walling Wonderland](http://www.wallingwonderland.info/) - articles and galleries of different types of dry stone building 
 + 
 + 
  
 +===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [Keeping livestock](livs:livestock)
 +- [Meadows, grass & pasture](mdws:meadows)
 +- [Stone building](stob:stone_building)
 +- [Smallholding](smho:smallholding)
 +- [Sheep](shep:sheep)
 +- [Fences](fenc:fences)
 +- [Hedges](hedg:hedges)
 +- [Gates & stiles](gate:gates)
 +- [Hurdles](hrdl:hurdles)
  
-## Specialist(s)+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
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