Dry stone walling experts from 14 countries descended on Ambleside in September for the 12th International Dry Stone Walling Congress.

Over three days, 130 delegates heard about the importance of dry stone walling around the globe – from Britain, across Europe to America and Australia – from 33 speakers. They also got the chance to help to build a new dry stone seat at the entrance to the University of Cumbria’s Ambleside campus, under the watchful eye of local mastercraftsmen Andrew Loudon and Stephen Harrison.

Cumbria Tourism Chair, Eric Robson, struck a chord with delegates in his keynote speech when he said that the cultural landscape included not just the landscape itself but the walls which framed it and the people who built the walls and lived there, and therefore their relationship with the landscape.

He also questioned why grants to urban projects were called investments but grants to rural projects were subsidies. It was time this attitude changed, he said.

During the weekend delegates enjoyed trips to Settle, Great Langdale, Arnside and Silverdale, as well guided walks around Ambleside.

Speaking after the Congress, DSWA Chair, Richard Love said: “This was the first time that this congress has been held in the UK, so we were very pleased to be able to show off our rich heritage of dry stone walls and other structures.

“The conference was a big success – all the delegates thoroughly enjoyed their time here in Ambleside; there were some excellent papers and a good deal of friendly discussion about the issues raised.”

Richard thanked Crooklands-based Dry Stone Walling Association for letting him persuade it that holding the Congress in Britain was a good idea and also for its financial support.

He also thanked the Northwest Regional Development Agency for its financial contribution towards the costs of the event. Several local organisations and agencies, including Cumbria Tourism, Burlington Stone, Booths and Yorkshire Tea also gave support in kind.

The project was part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas. The project was delivered through the Northwest Development Agency with Defra as the Managing Authority.

The international dry stone walling association is called the Societe Scientifique Internationale Pour l'etude Pluridisciplinaire de la Pierre Seche (more commonly known as the Societe Pierre Seche, or SPS). This was the first time its two yearly congress has ever been held in the UK this month at the Ambleside Campus of the University of Cumbria, near the headquarters of the DSWA, for the three-day Congress.

Organisations from most European Countries and from further afield are represented in SPS and some of the delegates had come from as far away as Australia and north America. Most were from Europe, including France, Germany, Slovenia and Spain, and there was a broad section of the DSWA’s own membership.

There was a great enthusiasm from wallers across the world to present papers at the conference and there was a busy programme with well over 30 speakers during the event. Subjects ranged widely from training and qualifications to vernacular variations and the contribution of dry stone walling to ecology and biodiversity.

There were various languages being used and instantaneous translation was provided through headphones.

As well as the presentations, there were field trips, short walks, and visits to local hostelries arranged by the Cumbria branch of the DSWA.

There was even a chance to take part in some walling, with DSWA Master Craftsman Andrew Loudon leading the building of a dry stone wall seat at the entrance to Ambleside Campus during the course of the event, to leave a rather special reminder of the wallers’ visit. Stone from Langdale was used with seating donated by Burlington from their Elterwater quarry. Delegates were able to assist him in the construction of the seat.

From the opening remarks by Ada Acovitsioti-Hameau, General Secretary of the SPS and organiser of the Congress in conjunction with Alison Shaw, Administrator, and members of the DSWA, to the end of the final field trip to walk round medieval walls in Yorkshire, there was great enthusiasm for the whole event and delegates were full of praise for the organisers.

In two years’ time the Congress will convene in Sardinia.