A New Parmelee Farm Wall

We are all set for this weekend's walling workshop. We will be building a low wall to compliment the latest addition to Parmelee Farm.

The Sugar Shack

The original workshop wall from the fall of 2009, built by a group of enthusiastic novices is still standing proud.

Now covered with lichen which gives an appearance of aged permanence.

 The Spring 2010 wall had a Lunkie which sadly was dismantled to make way for the underground electricity lines,

and a stile which is still present. Both walls, with a little expected settling are still like new.

Perhaps this Killingworth wall's longevity is due to the vertical capstones. 

More likely due to the instructors, four of the top ten Dry Stone experts in the country.

From L to R

 Chuck Eblacker http://www.eblackerstone.com/

Dan Snow https://www.dansnowstoneworks.com/

Brian Fairfield http://www.mainestonework.com/

Andrew Pighills http://www.englishgardensandlandscaping.com/

When is a wall not a wall?

I am often asked "How do you know when a wall is well built" The four walls photographed below, have all been called nice walls. Nice is defined as "Giving pleasure or satisfaction, pleasant or attractive." A definition that fits all four, but only two are well built.

There are a few basic principles to building a sound, structurally integral dry stone wall, which can be seen here

 https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/07/07/garden/20110707-STONEWALL/s/20110707-STONEWALL-slide-VJYH.html

and here.

When we review the first four photos. All the joints are crossed in this wall. No small pinning stones placed in the face, or outside of the wall

Whereas, with this wall. The blue lines indicate where the joints are not crossed (running joints) Numerous small stones pushed into the face, which compromises the integrity of the wall.

Here the length of the two stones circled in blue are along the face of the wall and not into the center of the wall. The heart of the wall is filled with gravel which has little to no structural integrity. The red circle indicates the area of the next photo.

This large stone has been placed on its edge, the inside face is convex, so any weight against that face will push the stone out

The same wall but a different place, the large white stone also placed on its edge has fallen over resulting in this collapse. Notice all the gravel pouring from the middle.

 Once again with this wall (below) every joint is crossed, no silly little stones in the face. This wall is also aesthetically pleasing, large foundation stones grading to smaller stones at the top.

 Believe me, the sadness of viewing your collapsing poorly built wall, will long outlast the perceived euphoria of its inexpensive build.

 To recap. the first two photos show walls that have been built with pride for the craft of Dry Stone Walling

 

 

These two are built with nothing more than the thought of profit for the contractor.

Remember, it is not just the Wild West that is full of cowboys.

Upcoming Walling Workshop in Connecticut

Dry Stone Wall Building Workshop
Killingworth , Connecticut

Time:   Saturday, April 28th and Sunday, April 29th, beginning at 9:00 am till 4:00 pm
Place:    Stonewell Farm, 39 Beckwith Rd., Killingworth CT 06419
Tuition: $300.00
Registration:
Contact:     Michelle Becker
860-322-0060
e-mail: mb@mbeckerco.com

On April 28th and April 29thth 2012, Andrew Pighills, expert stone mason and North American representative of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain, will teach a two-day, weekend long workshop on the art of dry stone wall building at Stonewell Farm in Killingworth, CT.

Participants will learn the basic principles of wall building, from establishing foundations, to the methods of dry laid (sometimes called dry-stacked) construction and ‘hearting’ the wall. This hands-on workshop will address not only the structure and principles behind wall building but also the aesthetic considerations of balance and proportion.

As part of Andrew's ongoing commitment to preserve New England’s heritage and promote and cultivate the dry stone wall building skills that will ensure the preservation of our vernacular landscape, the upcoming Dry Stone Walling workshop will be the first in what is planned to be a twice yearly event.

This workshop is open to participants, 18 years of age or older, of all levels of experience, however, the workshop is limited to 16 participants.


ANDREW PIGHILLS
Dry stone wall builder, Andrew Pighills, learned his craft as a young apprentice to master craftsmen in his birthplace, the Yorkshire Dales of his native England.

He has thirty years of experience building with stone, both dry and mortared, although dry laid stonework is his preference. Pighills holds an Advanced Craftsman certification with the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain, of which he is a North American representative, as well as a certificate in Horticulture from the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain. His company, English Gardens and Landscaping, specializes in English cottage gardens and natural stonework . In addition to building walls and creating gardens, Andrew’s work includes outdoor kitchens, wine cellars, fire-pits, fireplaces and garden features that include follies and other whimsical structures in stone.

 Andrew's work has been featured in the New York Times, and he has worked with renowned stone artist, Dan Snow, providing assistance with commissioned pieces and co-teaching a number of workshops on the art of dry stone walling throughout New England. Pighills’ work is profiled in the book, “Stone Primer” by Charles McCraven and published by Storey Publishing.
www.englishgardensandlandscaping.com
www.heaveandhoe.blogspot.com