I'm sorry Tony but the person who sent the email whether they reply to the topic or not is a separate issue to this. I raised this issue here because it has highlighted a grey area in the GAGB's Guideline as not all Mortared Top Walls are made of cut stone but just a Dry Stone Wall with the copping stones mortared into place.
From team_loumon who is from his comments a Dry Stone Waller, post on GC
The assumption that a mortar topped wall is sturdier is not necessarily true. A mortar topped wall can be sturdier but more often than not it is simply an added weakness.
As a wall settles it locks all the individual stones in place increasing in strength (that includes the toppers/copes) if they're mortared in place they're unable to settle and form a bridge over the top/last course of stones. The whole point of top stones is to lock both faces of the wall into place by their weight across the top of both faces. One or both faces will eventually collapse if the toppers are not in contact and leave a hole beneath the mortared tops.
We advise all our clients that if they want mortared tops we will return after 6 to 12 months to finish up after the wall has settled. (a square yard of DSW has about 1 ton of stone in it)
Which was posted in reply to Mootes (a committee member's) initial Post
I have just noticed a cache which has been Archived due to people thinking that it was in a Drystone wall, when in fact it is not it is in a Mortared topped wall. Why do people jump up and down when they think it is a Drystone wall, should we not use our eyes investigate if the wall is Drystone or not!
Mortared top wall were often used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries around building projects like dams and Quarries, as they are considered sturdier than a Drystone wall.
Which does not describe the wall in question is made from cut slab stones, but does give the impression that all Dry Stone Walls with a Mortared Top are all the same. And highlighted the Grey area in the GAGB guidelines
from my post on GC
For those interested in the issue I've posted a new thread on GAGB regarding adding Mortared Top Walls to the GAGB Guidelines. Please if your going to post any comments to the thread keep it factual and No personal attacks.
I kept my comments factual about a issue that I strongly believe needs to be clarified and apologize if you and the rest of the committee feel that this has nothing to do with GAGB. But I personally believed that the GAGB was created to support all aspects of Geocaching in the UK, not just Landowner agreements.
Dave
My post is my personal opinion and as such you do not have my permission to quote me outside of these forums!
Dave
Brenin Tegeingl
Formerly known as Mancunian Pyrocacher on GC