Stone walls are a kind of
masonry construction which have been made by man for thousands of years. First they were constructed by farmers and primitive people by piling loose field stones in what is called a
dry stone wall, then later with the use of
mortar and
plaster especially in the construction of
city walls,
castles, and other
fortifications prior to and during the
Middle Ages.
Materials
They are usually made of local stone, varying from
limestone and
flint to
granite and
sandstone. However, the quality of building stone varies greatly, both in terms of its endurance to
weathering, resistance to
water penetration and ability to be worked into regular shapes before construction. Worked stone is usually known as
ashlar, and they are often used for corners in stone buildings.
Granite is thus very resistant to weathering, while some limestones are very weak. Some limestones, however, such as
Portland stone have a deserved reputation for resistance to the weather.
Dimensions
Large structures are usually made of very thick walls, so that castles and cathedrals possess walls which may be up to 12 feet thick. They normally consist of a layered stone exterior and
rubble infill.
See also
Category:FortificationCategory:WallsCategory:CastlesCategory:Masonryde:Mauerwerkes:Albañileríauk:Мур (архітектура)
