Drystone Stiles

Stone is abundant in the upper Yorkshire Dales so when the common land was enclosed drystone walls were constructed to divide the fields, usually extending right to the highest points. Stiles were inserted in the walls to allow pedestrians to pass through but not sheep. Walls and stiles are constructed differently in the various dales according to the type of stone available, some types being more amenable to shaping than others. In this gallery are examples of the different types of stile and wall.