Field Walling
Rebuilding agricultural boundaries across Northumberland and Cumbria's upland farms, providing shelter, dividing fields, and managing livestock grazing through the seasons. Work ranges from small repairs to full rebuilds, using traditional techniques supplemented where needed with quarried stone to match the original wall.
Purpose
Field walls provide shelter and divide land, keeping livestock in or out and allowing fields to rest or be grazed as needed through the seasons.
Materials
New quarried stone, sourced from suppliers such as Alston Natural Stone, supplements and improves existing walls where needed.
Who’s it for
Built primarily for farmers working upland environments, where stone walls have traditionally been the boundary of choice.
Landscape
Upland areas have fewer trees and hedges and historically more available stone, unlike the lowland land to the east, which relies more on hedges, trees and fences.
Past Projects
A selection of recent field walling projects across Northumberland, from farm boundary repairs to large-scale restoration for conservation bodies.
Client
John Pattinson
Scope
XXXXXXX
Location
Hot Bank Farm, Hadrians Wall, Steel Rigg, Northumberland
Client
Northumberland National Park
Scope
Extensive restoration of 1,000 metres of dry stone wall.
Location
Greenlee & Stonefolds, Northumberland
Client
Private farm (Sewingshields)
Scope
400 metres of wall restoration to support rotational grazing as part of a regenerative farming system.
Location
Sewingfields Farm, Hadrian’s Wall, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland
Client
Private farm (Moss Peteral)
Scope
Restoration of a traditional bield, a stone-walled sheep shelter. Partially funded by a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant from Northumberland National Park.
Location
Moss Peteral Farm, Brampton, Northumberland
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, I regularly work around livestock. Coming from a farming background myself, I'm confident and comfortable working in fields with animals present.
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Yes, I can match new stone to an existing wall. The supplementary stone is selected to achieve a high standard of finish, so the repaired section blends naturally with the rest of the wall.
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Yes, I always build walls as strong and high as possible to withstand the presence of sheep and cattle. The wall needs to be structurally sound enough to withstand cattle rubbing and sheep jumping. The height also provides shelter and the best possible chance of keeping stock contained.
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A well-built dry stone wall typically lasts 100 to 140 years. The most common cause of collapse is subsidence, where the weight of the wall gradually pushes itself downhill. Poor original construction, or a lack of through-stones (the stones that bind both faces of the wall together), can also contribute to early failure.