Winding across fields, hillsides and moors, dry stone walls are one of the most recognisable features of the UK’s rural landscape. Built entirely without mortar, these cleverly constructed walls have stood the test of time – but only just.
Though it’s estimated there are around 200,000km of dry stone walls across Britain, only a small percentage remain in good condition today. Understanding how they’re built, what gives them their strength, and how to care for them is key to preserving this historic craft for future generations.
What is a dry stone wall?
A dry stone wall is a wall built without mortar or cement – the word “dry” references the fact that there’s nothing sticking the thing together. It’s simply holding itself up. The stones used in a dry stone wall are just as they are found or quarried, and have not been cut to size.
Dry stone walls are built differently depending on the local area and the stone found there.
How does a dry stone wall actually work? And how does it hold itself up?
Dry stone walls are made up of stones (often a variety of limestone or gritstone) and larger, flatter stones to form the “cap” of the wall.
Although they look like they are just one large wall, they’re actually made up of two thinner walls that are built very close together and filled in with smaller stones. As these two walls are built, they start to form an A shape. This wide base gives the wall stability.
Like many traditional crafts, dry stone walls can only be made by hand. With fewer people skilled in the art of dry stone walling, it’s more important than ever to learn the process so these walls can be protected and used for years to come.
Find out about another traditional rural heritage craft: roof thatching.
History of dry stone walls
Dry stone walls make up much of the British landscape, having been used as boundaries throughout Britain for many centuries. Most of the dry stone walls we see around the British countryside today date back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
They were traditionally used as a way of creating boundaries between landowners and controlling livestock.
How to repair and protect dry stone walls
Many of the dry stone walls in the UK are damaged or in a derelict state, but measures can be taken to maintain and restore them.
These simple steps will help protect dry stone walls:
- Cut vegetation away from the sides of the walls at least once a year to check the condition of the wall and prevent frost damage
- Avoid allowing trees to grow next to walls, as the roots can make the foundations of dry stone walls unstable
- Remove ivy from walls, as it will weaken the structure
- Replace coping stones (the flat stone used to top the wall) if needed
- Repair any damage to the wall as soon as it happens. The longer it is left, the higher the eventual cost of repair
- Use stone from local quarries wherever possible to maintain consistency of the stone
The Dry Stone Walling Association runs regular training courses across the UK, and has a register of professional wallers if you need to employ their services.
Wildlife benefits of dry stone walls
Dry stone walls are home to many species of lichens, mosses and ferns, which in turn support other plants. Many invertebrates and slow worms also live within the cracks of dry stone walls, while birds make nests in them too. They can act as wildlife corridors in the countryside.
How to build a dry stone wall
- Pick an area to build. A slightly shady spot will give maximum wildlife value.
- Sort your stones into piles depending on size.
- Clear and level the ground, digging a trench about one foot deep. This trench will hold the foundation stones.
- Place larger stones at the bottom of the trench, filling in any gaps with smaller stones.
- Build up the wall on two sides, laying the stones in layers. A walling line will help keep your wall straight on each side – you can make one using garden canes or metal stakes that come together at the top to make an A shape. Use this shape as a guide.
- Your wall should be built in an A shape. Build layers of stones flat against one another and positioned lengthways. Make sure the stones touch, and cover any joins in the layer below using smaller stones.
- If your wall is large, add large “through stones” (stones that span both sides of the wall) at intervals of roughly one metre. This will help with stability.
- Add a layer of “coping stones” (large, flat stones with a rounded top) at the top to finish off the wall. Make sure they are in close contact with the stones below.
Discover more about the UK's history
- Give one of these at-risk heritage skills a go and connect with generations past
- The best UK UNESCO World Heritage sites to visit for unforgettable days out
- ‘I swapped city life to become a thatcher and haven’t looked back.’ This ancient rural tradition is at risk – meet the people fighting to revive it
Top image: Cam Gill Road near Kettlewell, Yorkshire is lined by dry stone walls (credit: Getty Images)
