A section of the Millennium Wall at the National Stone CentreMillennium Wall

This unique collection of vernacular dry stone walls was created over the May Bank Holiday in 2000 by 150 members of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain (DSWA) and their helpers.

The Millennium Wall is a unique and permanent open air exhibition of their craft and Construction of the Millennium Wall (with the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire)provides an excellent educational facility at the National Stone Centre. Each of the nineteen six-metre-long sections of wall were built by craftspeople from across Britain, each using at least 10 tonnes of stone from their own region and built in the style of their own locality.

The resulting feature forms the most extensive collection of different types of dry stone walls in the UK, showing the Millennium Wall Commemorative Plaquevariation in geology found in mainland Britain and the skills of the craftswomen and men who build in stone without the use of mortar.

Millennium WallThe Millennium Wall includes single boulder dyke, flag or 'tombstone' wall from the Lake District, stone-faced bank (clawdd) from Angelsey, Galloway dyke and a wide variety of doubled walls. The varying construction techniques and differing geology of the stone used gives a stunning visual effect.

The regions represented are:
Caithness; Sutherland; Central Scotland; Isle of Skye; West of Scotland; South-east Scotland; South-west Scotland; Northumbria; Cumbria; Lancashire; West Yorkshire; South Yorkshire; North Wales; Cheshire; Derbyshire; Cotswolds and South Wales. Some regions displayed two stone types or two walls styles.

Dry stone wall courses

section of a dry stone wallFind out more about our Dry Stone Wall course and Stone in the Garden course
more information

 

Dry Stone Walling AssociationFurther information about dry stone walling and the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA), which is a registered charity established in 1968 to further all aspects of the craft, can be seen at www.dswa.org.uk

The National Stone Centre is an Independent Registered Education Charity
Patron: The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire