Dry Stone Walling FAQs

  • Dry Stone walling relies on gravity by using stones without mortar to build a structure which is flexible and offers natural drainage. The stones are interlocked, and the wall is built with a "batter," which is the term used for the inclination or slope when each course of stones is set slightly closer to the centre than the one below it. Mortared walls are rigid and use either cement mortar or lime mortar to bind the stones together. Back bedded mortared walls have the appearance of a dry stone wall but have mortar internally. Unlike dry stone walls, these types of walls require a concrete foundation.

  • I often get asked this by the public while on a job! The stone was quarried as close to the site as possible, and preferably from slightly uphill, so it could be moved downhill more easily. Historically, oxen, horses or ponies would haul the stone by trailer or sled, sometimes moving up to 17 tonnes a day.

  • These are called through-stones, and they're a crucial part of building a long-lasting wall. They span the width of the wall to bind both faces together for extra strength. Through-stones are a relatively modern addition to dry stone walling, widely introduced during the great wall-building period of the Enclosure Acts, from around 1750 to 1825. Most of the walls you see today date from that period.

  • Anywhere from 80 to 200 years, depending on ground conditions, the skill of the craftsman, and the type of stone used.

  • This depends on a lot of factors, including height, wall type (mortared, field, or garden), and whether it's a new build or a repair. As a rough guide, a field wall might progress at 3 to 5 linear metres a day, while a new garden wall might be built at around 2 to 5 square metres a day

  • Yes, I work all year round.

  • Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and Cumbria. Click here to learn more about the areas covered as well as regional differences in walling and projects involved.

    If you are uncertain whether I could work on your project feel free to reach out.

  • There's no fixed time frame, as it depends on the scale and type of job. A large agricultural project might need booking up to a year in advance, while a small to medium garden ornamental project is typically more like 3 to 6 months. I always try to be as accommodating as possible.

  • Yes, I have public liability insurance.

  • A DSWA Level 2 Intermediate Certificate, achieved in 2017, and a DSWA Level 3 Advanced Certificate, achieved in 2026.

  • A qualification that requires a high level of quality craftsmanship to pass. Level 3 has two stages. The first, Part A, requires the candidate to build two features, for example a curved wall, a slope, or a lunky (also known as a smoot). If that's passed, Part B follows: a timed test to take down and rebuild 4.5 square metres of wall in a single 7.5-hour day.

    Check out the Dry Stone Walling Association website for more information: http://dswa.org.uk/

  • The best starting point is contacting your local DSWA branch, which can tell you about taster days and beginner training, or you can learn privately with a professional dry stone waller. If you came and did a taster or teaching day with me, you'd learn the basics of dry stone walling, including how to take down a wall safely and efficiently, and how to select and place the right stones to build a wall with real structural integrity.

Ready to make a start on your project?

Speak to Ben today, your dry stone walling specialist.

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