A flint wall is a type of wall construction that primarily uses flint stones as the main building material. These walls are often found in areas where flint is readily available, particularly in parts of England.
While the basic principle is using flint, different techniques are employed to prepare and lay the stones, leading to variations in appearance and structural characteristics. Two common methods involve processing the flint in specific ways: snapped flint and knapped flint.
Understanding Snapped Flint Walls
A snapped flint wall is constructed using flint stones that have been prepared by breaking them in half. This process exposes the inner face of the flint stone.
- Preparation: Stones are physically broken, or 'snapped'.
- Appearance: The exposed inner face is typically of a circular or oval shape, which is visible on the surface of the finished wall.
- Laying: These stones are then incorporated into the wall structure, often set within mortar alongside other materials like brick or stone quoins (corner stones) for structural stability and aesthetic contrast.
Exploring Knapped Flint Construction
Knapped flint construction represents a more refined technique compared to using simply snapped flint. It involves further processing the snapped flint stones.
- Starting Point: Begins with snapped flint.
- Further Processing: The snapped flint is worked on to square off the round edges.
- Result: This careful shaping produces more uniform, often cube-shaped flints.
- Laying: These precisely shaped flints are then typically laid in precise horizontal rows within the mortar, creating a more formal and regular pattern on the wall surface than unsnapped or simply snapped flint work.
Both snapped and knapped flint techniques result in durable and visually distinctive walls, reflecting local geology and historical building practices.
