OTHER STONE PRODUCTS

DRY STONE WALLING - available from STEPTOES

Random stone is commonly used in the unique art of erecting walls without the use of cement or other fixing materials.

Stone used is either sandstone, limestone or gritstone traditionally on a 5'6" to 6'0'' high wall the base would be approx 29'' wide tapering in to approx 13'' at the top (called a 'batter') after the stonewaller has dug away the top soil to a depth of anything from 4'' - 9''.

DRY STONE WALL

Building a dry stone wall is an art - the method involves various essential stages from 'bases' to 'fillings' and 'throughs' then the next to the top course which is known as the 'coverhand' and finally the top course which is known as a capstone, cape or topstone.

A good waller can build 6 or 7 running yards of wall a day meaning he would go through around 6 tonnes of stone a day.

Holes near the top of a wall are called a 'smoot' these allow a person to observe game without being seen, small holes near the base are called 'bolt holes' these allow rabbits or small animals through, gaps in the wall to allow sheep through are called 'cripple holes'.

A BOLT HOLE	A CRIPPLE HOLE

The advantages of a dry stonewall are numerous, they are very strong, they not only keep livestock in they also provide shelter.

Dry stone walls do not take the maintenance of a hedge or fence and do not take nutrients from the ground.

Stone walls provide shelter not only for cattle but wild life like weasels, stoats, mice, lizards and rabbits. Many insects thrive in them and lichens and moss abound there.

REMEMBER dry stone walls are a part of our heritage do not damage them, do not climb over them - use stiles - if topstones are removed water and frost will destroy it - leave them be.