Having A Go At Dry Stone Walling
10th August 2024 - New Experience Number 16.
I’ll admit, I was very naive about what it takes to build a dry stone wall. I thought it was just a case of layering stones one on top of the other, and very much a balancing act. How wrong I was! I found out all about it by having a go at dry stone walling as one of my 52 new experiences in 2024.
Dry Stone Walling Across The Great British Countryside
The green and pleasant land of the British countryside has an almost patchwork appearance to it. Even in winter when there’s a hard frost or a blanket of snow, you can still make out the mosaic patterns across the fields and rolling hills, as trees, hedges and the iconic dry stone walls mark out boundaries.
Criss crossing across the landscape, these evocative stone structures are a ubiquitous sight in rural and agricultural parts of the British Isles.
What Is Dry Stone Walling?
If you’ve not heard of it before, dry stone walling is the traditional craft of building a wall solely from stone.
There is no cement, no mortar and nothing to ‘set’ the stones into position. Instead, it relies on carefully placed stones, friction and gravity to remain standing. Oh, and a lot of patience and hard work!
This may sound like a recipe for disaster, and that the lack of adhesive surely means it won’t last for very long. In actual fact, a well built dry stone wall can easily last for over a century!
Having said that, there may sometimes be a layer of cement on the top which the decorative finishing stones sit in. This is mostly used to make it harder for people to steal the top stones!
Having A Go At Dry Stone Walling
North Yorkshire Moors National Park had organised a community dry stone walling day which was taking place at a current restoration project. It was an opportunity to drop in and learn about the traditional craft, watch some demonstrations, and have a go.
In an idyllic small village in the countryside, the existing, aging boundary around a water meadow was being dismantled and rebuilt to be stronger and tidier.
It was a gloriously sunny day as I drove through the countryside paying more attention than usual to the stone boundary markers carving up the landscape.
I introduced myself to Tom the waller, a very friendly craftsman who had been dry stone walling for over twenty years.
Talking me through the process, I realised there was so much more to this traditional skill than I’d originally thought.
The Technique
There are several ways to build a dry stone wall. The double wall technique that Tom was using involves building two parallel rows of stones along the boundary. These are built up in layers that get smaller as they reach their desired height.
Stones need to make contact with the stone next to them. To ensure a solid and strong structure, each joint between stones needs to be covered by the stone on the next layer above.
Through stones are used to add strength and bonding to the construction. These are larger stones which sit across both parts of the wall at regular intervals.
A Walling Line is used as a guide. It’s pretty much just pieces of string tied between ‘A’ shaped frames which straddle the boundary.
Smaller stones are used to fill in the gaps, but they aren’t simply poured into the space. With various names including heartings, chinks, or fillings, these smaller pieces of stone are selected for specific gaps. Using fingers to get a sense of how big voids are that need to be filled, appropriate stones are then selected and put into place.
Tools Of The Trade
I love the fact that it feels as though the way a dry stone wall is built, probably hasn’t changed much over the years. There are no machines and everything is done by hand.
This does mean it takes longer to build a dry stone wall than it would take to put up other types of boundaries. However they are impressively hardy, with many of them being centuries old, and are an important part of the countryside.
With a variety of chisels, hammers and other hand held tools, Tom nimbly used them to work the stones. Chipping off any odd corners or protruding points, he shaped the stones so that they would sit snuggly next to each other.
Giving It A Go
This is a very hands on activity, but a good waller doesn’t over-handle their stones. I’m clearly not a good waller! I selected a stone that I thought looked a suitable size and shape to position next to one already in situ. I lay it down, then I turned it around. Then I flipped it over and turned it around some more. It didn’t quite fit how I thought that it would.
With Tom on hand, he suggested I could trim a bit off. Under his expert eye I hammered into the stone and removed some of the overhang. He had made it look so easy! It took me several attempts, but then he had been doing this for over two decades!
I’d got my stone into a better shape and size, but it now had a wobble on it. Using my fingers to get a sense of how much space was under it, I found a small hearting and slid it into position. It was a bit like slipping beer mats under a wobbly table leg.
I was not a speedy builder, but it was nice to be outdoors in the countryside, working with natural materials in beautiful surroundings.
If Stones Could Talk
Any work done to an existing wall, such as rebuilding or dismantling, is like opening a time capsule, offering a brief glimpse into the moment in time when it was built.
Builders would often put bottles or tins from their lunch into the walls, and some people have found shoes and animal bones in-between the stones!
Is There Still A Need For Dry Stone Walling?
As it is so labour intensive and time consuming, I did play the devil’s advocate and ask whether there was still a need for dry stone walls aside from the fact they provide a reminder of tradition and heritage.
Of course the response was that there is a need. Not only are dry stone walls hardy boundary markers, they are very good for the environment, with only natural materials used in the build. They’re also an incredible wildlife habitat, providing shelter and ideal conditions for lichens, common lizards and slow worms to name a few
Personally I think there is something nostalgically beautiful about them. I love how they keep history alive, both in the making, and in the time that they have been standing. I also think it’s an incredible skill that is useful to know!
I Loved Having A Go At Dry Stone Walling
It is hard work, and a very physical, slow process. That said, I can imagine it must be quite relaxing to get into the rhythm of building the wall, wonderful to be out in the countryside, and a heck of a sense of achievement once it’s complete. Although I’m not so sure it’s quite as enjoyable on a rainy day!
We had a fabulous instructor who was incredibly passionate about sharing the skill with a great sense of humour too!
I loved learning about all the effort, skill and technique that goes into making these iconic, and often overlooked structures. Whilst I’m definitely not an expert after just a few hours, I think I may be able to build some sort of shelter in the event of an apocalypse, although it would be very small! Along with whittling which I had also recently tried, I might be able to survive for a day or two!
Want To Try It Yourself?
- There are lots of opportunities to learn the art of dry stone walling.
- The Yorkshire Dry Stone Walling Guild offer events such as tasters and practice sessions. They also run walling courses.
- The Dry Stone Walling Association offer various courses across the country, including ones for beginners.
- The drop in day that I joined was through the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. You can keep an eye on their website for other similar events.
- Check your local noticeboards and have a look online to see if there’s anything happening near you.
- You can also find tutorials on places like YouTube. This does mean you’ll have to have your own equipment.
- Take a look at some other craft experiences I’ve tried that you might like to give a go.
Cost Of Experience
- The open day that I joined was free.
- Some taster sessions start from £10 for a few hours.
- Some taster sessions are over two days costing over £100.
- The price will vary depending on the duration of the experience and the provider.
Recommendations
- This is hard work and manual, so be prepared for some lifting and hammering.
- Wherever you book to try this experience, they should give you a kit list. It’s wise to take gloves and sturdy boots.
- Listen and pay attention to the safety briefings.
- This is an outdoor activity, so dress according to the forecast. Layers are good as it can be hot work, but you might soon cool off when you break.
- Don’t forget your sun cream.
- There are many regional variations when it comes to dry stone walling, so you may find the terms. tools and techniques differ depending on where you try the experience.
- Have fun, and let me know how you get on if you give it a go!
Often wondered about the process behind dry stone walling (I spend a lot of time hiking), I didn’t realise that places offered the chance to try it out, sounds like it’d be hard work 😂
It definitely was hard work! I don’t think I’ll ever look at a dry stone wall in quite the same way again! :o)
When I saw the wall, all I could think of was the wall in the movie Stardust. If you’ve seen it, you will know what I mean. Seems like a great day and very interesting. My kind of thing!
I’ve not seen it, I’ll have to take a look! I love finding out about things I often see but generally overlook, I find it fascinating! :o)