How high? : Dry stone walling

These two guys were booked a year ago to do this work. Part of the mill estate contains this barn, which like the rest of the place was totally derelict when we bought it 4 years ago. The barn is now fully restored leaving just it's yard and 'garden' to complete.

Sean & Gary are in great demand as their work is of such high quality. They build 12 metres a day and will have the new dry stone walls finished by Thursday.

Dry stone walls begin to collapse as the stone ages and weathers. The stone cracks, moves and more stone cracks. Eventually the wall begins to fall down.

The dry stone walls around the barn were so old they could not be repaired. We removed the old walls and the stone was used as hardcore. As the barn is listed, we sought good quality used stone to build the walls back up with. It is not easy to find. The stone alone for the 42 metres we have to build was over £2,000.

Their next job is 2,000 metres!! I reckon that's over 6 months work. Dry stone walling is real art. I'm not sure I would want to do it though.

For those who follow my journal regularly, I have my car back and my wallet empty!!