Charlestown: drystone walling
Ray and Frank H were in construction mode to investigate a wall in Knott Wood.
In the picture, the original wall went completely across the gap with the right-of-way going between the large block (a broken gate stoop) and the leaning stoop. The wall to the right of the leaning stoop is to be tackled first because it has multiple problems . . .
*No capstones.
*Running joints.
*Incorrect layering sequence (too many large stones high in the wall)
*Tracers stones (ie narrow stones laid parallel to the line of the wall rather than into the wall)
*Too many voids
*Invasive roots from the tree
By lunchtime we had got to this point:
*Wall partly rebuilt with larger stones being lower down in the structure
*The stone gate stoop partly dug out, straightened (trade secret) then repacked.
*and, most importantly . . . Ray re-fuelled ready for more heavy lifting!
By the end of the session the improvement from the top picture should be noticeable!
*Wall structure is stable and interlocking.
*There is a good overlap of joints.
*Internal voids have been tightly packed with hearting stone.
* The wall top will provide a decent building surface for next week's work.
Next session, we hope to finish this section of wall (provided that we can find sufficient 'building stone' and suitable capstones).
Subsequent work will involve the section to the left.
Today's work was not without physical effort - heavy lifting was the order of the day! Walling, although not without its problems, usually goes smoothly if you stick to the basic principles which are hinted at in this parody:
The CROWS' Walling Song (To the tune of the Eton Boating Song)
Jolly walling weather,
Cooled by a breeze,
Lifting stones together,
Really makes us wheeze ...
Wall, wall together,
No time for any ease.
Wall, wall together,
We'll soon be on our knees!
Since we've walled forever,
We know it's one-on-two;
Running joints aren't clever -
We'll not forget a through ...
But we'll be in bother
If we haven't a clue
And build the wall on heather
With the batter out of true!
{With apologies to William Johnson and Captain Algernon Drummond who wrote the lyrics and composed the music for the Eton Boating Song (1863)}
Today's work was funded by the landowner. The slightly instructive parody was free!
