Reading List – The How To – Essential Edition

Here is a beginning for your dry stone walling library, just in case you wanted to narrow it down to the essential starter list of titles. This curated collection establishes a solid foundation to return to time and time again and is dedicated to the “How To” of dry stone walling.

Dry Stone Walling: A Practical Handbook by Alan Brooks & Sean Adcock

Written by Alan Brooks and Sean Adcock this is the fourth edition of this extensive handbook on dry stone walling. Often referred to as the “bible” by wallers , this handbook covers every topic related to proper dry stone walling. See Description below for more details. Edited by Elizabeth Agate. Illustrations by Elizabeth Agate and Linda Francis. First published 1977 by The Conservation Volunteers, Sedum House, Mallard Way, Doncaster DN4 8DB Registered Charity in England (261009), Scotland (SC039302)

Dry Stone Walling: Techniques & Traditions by DSWA-GB

This book is an approachable and fascinating look at the traditional craft of dry stone walling. Written in plain language, it offers a practical guide to the techniques used in different places, gives background detail that explain the simple principles involved, and shows why walls have developed in their own characteristic ways. It provides an excellent mix of basic how-to information, variations from around the UK, and historical information. It also includes an appendix with information on the Dry Stone Wall Association certification program.

Published 2004 by The Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain

Stonework: A technical guide to standards and identification of common faults in dry stone walling by Sean Adcock

Written by Sean Adcock, this helpful guide focuses on common problems in walling and how to avoid them. It is filled with examples of poor walling and side by side comparisons of correct and incorrect technique. A very valuable guide. The content found here is not available in any other book. Published 2012 by the North Wales Branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain.