About Dry Stone Walling

Dry stone is a building method by which structures are constructed from stones without any mortar to bind them together. Dry stone structures are stable because of their unique construction method, which is characterized by the presence of a load-bearing façade of carefully selected interlocking stones.

The main principle of a dry stone wall is to create a stock proof barrier between two boundary points. Dry stone walls date back to the Enclosements Act of 1768 this was an act of Parliament which allowed land owners to separate their land from their neighbours. Each allotment was 2 oxen wide to allow for the ease of ploughing. The other aim of the Enclosement Act was to provide employment to the masses where the ground was thin and the stone was close to the surface walls were built.

Wherever the soil was deep and rich, it was the custom to plant hedges.

Placeholder image