Charlestown: Drystone walling
A second session for Ray and Frank H to complete a short section of drystone wall in Knott Wood.
As a reminder, this was the original state of the wall:
This should be in a textbook! The wall contains a wide selection of construction errors, deficiencies and potential calamities.
Today's session was one of exasperation as we struggled with slippery ground, a limited supply of 'building' stones, inadequate through stones, a dearth of hearting material and an ill-assortment of capstones. However, we persevered and tried not to swear too much, so that by the end of the day . . .
Front face of wall:
*The wall has been built to rise up the slight slope but with 'courses' kept horizontal.
*Capstones have been placed to stabilise the top of the wall and bring the overall structure to an appropriate height.
*This face is supposed to be the posh face of the wall. Mmm! It's a bit rough and ready . . . but certainly posher than the 'back' of the wall!
'Back' of the wall:
*This shows part of the back of the wall. Building it around the tree (just visible at lower right) was an additional problem.
* As an experiment, we 'planted' some holly along this section. If these sprigs are successful they will provide a 'green' screen between the two trees.
This is not the prettiest wall that CROWS have constructed and we could not hope to match the quality produced by a professional waller, but the wall is a sound - structurally stable, interlocked and (an often neglected aspect of walling) well-packed with heartings.
Today's work was funded by the landowner.
