The sustainability and assessment of drystone retaining walls

The art of drystone walling is a highly sustainable traditional practice which uses local materials and craftsmen. As no<br/>mortar is used they have low embodied carbon, and much repair work or rebuilding can be carried out using very little if any new<br/>materials. However local practices developed to suit local materials, leading to a range of construction styles, making them difficult to<br/>assess. This paper examines a range of construction styles of drystone retaining walls in use across the United Kingdom.<br/>Understanding of the substantial variations of construction style is essential to enable proper assessment of these structures. Different<br/>frictional and weathering characteristics, and the naturally occurring shapes of stone found in an area, all affect the ways in which the<br/>stones have traditionally been assembled into walls. Ease of construction also plays a part, as the craftsman will naturally wish to<br/>achieve a robust construction in a way that is economical of time and effort. Aesthetics may be very important, for both client and<br/>craftsman. It is also shown that construction style is influenced by the location and function of the structures, with harbour walls<br/>particularly likely to have unique characteristics, and the reasons for this are explored.