These vary according to the wall’s purpose, its age and the type of stone in which it is built. Those which enclose cattle are usually about 4′ (1.2m) from the ground to the top of the coping, whereas walls to fence sheep, particularly moorland varieties, are usually at least 5’3″ (1.6m). Garden walls can be any height. Old walls, predating the Parliamentary Enclosure Acts are usually more coarsely built, being wider at the base with a gradual batter and few throughs. The most highly-designed walls are invariably the major enclosure walls, or march dykes as Rainsford-Hannay (1957) calls them. Whatever the age of the wall, the more regular its stone the less batter is required. See here for further discussion of batter.
The diagram below illustrates the construction of a typical Pennine wall. The pattern of walls varies even within an area, depending on factors such as stone type, local tradition and the whim of the builder, but these differences are often only minor modifications. The general principles outlined below apply to most other walls.
Dry stone walls are semi-flexible structures, with the stone settling over time. The basic principles involved in building a dry stone wall are aimed at reducing the potential for movement during this settlement. Sound building technique will result in a strong structure, and it is important to note that most of the strength is internal and cannot be readily seen from the outside of the wall. Consequently, a solid wall may not look perfect. Conversely, a wall can also be built to look good on the outside at the expense of internal strength. However, an experienced waller should be able to build a wall which is both strong and looks good, with ‘tight’ faces, that is good stone to stone contact and a minimum of gaps.
Similarly, a good, even line and batter, with no bulges or depressions in the face of the wall, will mean that all the forces are correctly displaced within the wall.
The stones are set level in roughly graded layers with the biggest at the bottom and the smallest under the coping. Throughs are usually in two rows, at about 2′ (600mm) height at 1’9″ (525mm) centres, and 4′ (1.2m) height at 2’4″ (710mm) centres. If the wall’s height under the topstones is 5′ (1.2m) or more, the same number of throughs should be used, but in three rows. Throughs in different rows should be staggered for greatest strength.
The coping is often upright, with even-sided topstones.
The pattern of throughstones and coping can vary considerably from place to place. For example, throughs may be flush with the wall faces, may project a few inches on one or both sides, or may form a continuous layer. Variations in coping can be even more pronounced, and might, or might not include a coverband below the topstones, as shown in the diagram. These variations are described in more detail in Throughstones and Types of coping.
