This dry stone fence is on a thoroughbred horse farm in the central part of Kentucky--or better known as the Bluegrass Region. Stone fences, many of them over a hundred years old, are quite common in Kentucky and were first built by Scots-Irish immigrants to the state. The fences, sometimes called walls, get the name "dry stone" because they are built with no mortar, using limestone rocks and boulders collected from land cleared for agriculture. The fences are built from the ground up,usually in two courses side by side to get the sufficient strength. Stacks of rock are joined with longer flattish rocks that span two stacks. Gaps in the course are "chunked" with smaller rocks. Here's a closeup:
Friday Fences is a new meme hosted by my good blog friend Janis at Life According to Jan and Jer . Go there to sign up or check out the fences shared by other players.
14 comments:
I love the way this stone wall looks like it has a border on top.
Talk about backbreaking work.. but it is a beautiful and enduring fence the will stand the test of time.
I love it Faye, nice shots.
hugs,
Pam
Love these stone fences. In the mid 70's we lived in a house in Sumner County Tennessee that had one of these all along the lane,about 1/4 mile. I can't imagine the backbreaking labor required to build them. Very nice shot!
Can you believe the Artwork of these stone fences. So fascinating to me. Great shots Faye...thanx for playing!
I love these old 'fences'. I was not aware they were built by Scotch-Irish immigrants. Chester County, PA was a popular spot for the S-I the settle and there are lots of these fences in that area - makes sense!
I'm not sure who had the special fence around their grave stone. I'll check if I'm in the area, it's a very peaceful place.
Lovely perspective!
In places where the land yields so much rock it only makes sense to use it wisely.
This fence looks like it could have come out of the English countryside.
Nice to meet you Faye! :)
i SO want fences like these! sadly, not enough rocks to even begin one here in Texas! plus our ground would crack and heave too much to support them, i'm afraid! GORGEOUS! and SO much work!!!
(and you still have the most gorgeous smile!) :)
beautiful stone fence :)
Stone fences are so fascinating to me, such hard work went into making them.
Very interesting design of the stonewall. The wall toppers are very interesting.
I love the stone wall look. I don't think I'd have the patience to build one myself, though. Great shot and good info.
That dry stone wall is a work of art. It must have taken months to put that together.
Beautiful... Fences typically were made out of what was at hand... love that!
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