Dry stone walls stand as testament to the enduring craftsmanship of generations past. They are a quintessential feature of the North York Moors and other rocky regions of the British Isles. From Cornwall and the Cotswolds, to Scotland and Ireland, these walls served as swift and sturdy field boundaries, surpassing the time it would take for hedges or trees to mature.
The technique of dry stone walling, where stones interlock without mortar, creates a load-bearing structure, ensuring stability through careful selection and placement of each stone.
According to the Dry Stone Wall Association, the UK is criss-crossed by approximately 200,000 kilometres of these walls. Yet, many, like this one on Carr Ridge, suffer from neglect. Subsidence, rabbit burrows, and heavy snow can compromise even the most solid constructions.
These walls are not exclusive to Britain. In Africa, the ancient city complex of Great Zimbabwe, built between the 11th and 15th centuries, showcases dry stone techniques. And in County Mayo, Eire, a Neolithic dry stone wall field system lies preserved under a blanket of peat, echoing a far distant past.
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