Nigel Chivers Welcome to the dry stone walls page, this is aimed at being a quick look at some of the more interesting drystone walls that I have built or repaired recently.		Traditional Dry Stone Walling. Click on the images for a closer look.

Nigel Chivers

Welcome to the dry stone walls page, this is aimed at being a quick look at some of the more interesting drystone walls that I have built or repaired recently.

Traditional Dry Stone Walling.

Click on the images for a closer look.

Here is the start of a drystone wall, it was a repair of a wall next to Durham park just north of the City of Bath.

Next we have a small repair to a wall, this one had fallen down due to the Ivy all over it, you can see that the area has had the Ivy removed and the wall built back up.

Here is a boundary wall with a mix of old and new stone near Badminton

This is a wall in Brinkworth a hedge was removed giving the owners more of an entrance than a hole in a hedge, there is a story to this wall, but that's not for here. I did not start the wall, but I was asked to finish it.

It has taken a few months to build and consumed 530 tonnes of stone. I have spent some time here over the last couple of years.

This next wall was just an extension to the existing wall, the wall was added to by roughly half a meter, you can just about make out where the old and new join together.

I had to put my waders on for this job, this was a rebuild and a re-route of a brook, its a wet and mucky job, but very rewarding to see the finished job

Next up is a wall around a house in Great Somerford, a lot of the original wall had to be taken down due to the relocation of the drive so it seemed only right to carry it on around the entire front of the house.

Here is some recent work, a lovely spot in the middle on nowhere.

Not all my own work here, I am more than happy to work with you to get the project finished click to find out more.

Most of my work is rebuilding dry stone walls, or drystone walls depending on how you like or prefer to spell it, so my job title is a waller, this is the name given to those of us who build dry stone walls. My Father likes to help out as well, he has been building drystone walls for 60 years, my great Grandfather was a waller as well, As far as my Father can remember he charged 4 old pence a yard, I am sorry, but it has gone up a little since the late 1800s. Apparently when it was raining he worked with a sheet of galvanized tin on his back to keep him dry. I am not quite sure how that would work, I dont think I am going to try.		I am qualified to level 2 (intermediate) with the DSWA. A piece of paper does not mean too much I know, but I have taken the time to become qualified, I hope this reassures any potential customers of my commitment quality and technical understanding of the work involved. There is a lot more to a wall than it just looking looking pretty. If you are interested in drystone walling the BTCV on-line guide was an excellent resource but the funding has ended for it. You can now buy it here.
		BTCV Guide to Dry Stone Walling
It is worth remembering that a dry stone wall is built without sand and cement or concrete for footings, these are a dry stone walls worst enemy as they stop the wall from breathing and moving with the land, using cement can result in cracks and often shattered stone. My work is carried out traditionally which will ensure the wall will stand the test of time by using the same methods passed on to myself by my Father and by actively joining up with other like minded wallers within the DSWA where we rebuild walls for charities such as the woodland Trust and ensure the skills we have are kept at a high standard.		My main area of work is about 10 - 15 miles around Malmesbury in Wiltshire, this will also include Marshfield, West Kington, Sherston, Leighterton, Tetbury and Corston in Wiltshire. Recently I have been working near Warminster, Colerne, Corsham and Pickwick HomeWallsLinksContact

Most of my work is rebuilding dry stone walls, or drystone walls depending on how you like or prefer to spell it, so my job title is a waller, this is the name given to those of us who build dry stone walls. My Father likes to help out as well, he has been building drystone walls for 60 years, my great Grandfather was a waller as well, As far as my Father can remember he charged 4 old pence a yard, I am sorry, but it has gone up a little since the late 1800s. Apparently when it was raining he worked with a sheet of galvanized tin on his back to keep him dry. I am not quite sure how that would work, I dont think I am going to try.

I am qualified to level 2 (intermediate) with the DSWA. A piece of paper does not mean too much I know, but I have taken the time to become qualified, I hope this reassures any potential customers of my commitment quality and technical understanding of the work involved. There is a lot more to a wall than it just looking looking pretty.

If you are interested in drystone walling the BTCV on-line guide was an excellent resource but the funding has ended for it. You can now buy it here.

BTCV Guide to Dry Stone Walling

It is worth remembering that a dry stone wall is built without sand and cement or concrete for footings, these are a dry stone walls worst enemy as they stop the wall from breathing and moving with the land, using cement can result in cracks and often shattered stone.

My work is carried out traditionally which will ensure the wall will stand the test of time by using the same methods passed on to myself by my Father and by actively joining up with other like minded wallers within the DSWA where we rebuild walls for charities such as the woodland Trust and ensure the skills we have are kept at a high standard.

My main area of work is about 10 - 15 miles around Malmesbury in Wiltshire, this will also include Marshfield, West Kington, Sherston, Leighterton, Tetbury and Corston in Wiltshire. Recently I have been working near Warminster, Colerne, Corsham and Pickwick

HomeWallsLinksContact