Hadrian's Wall & Henshaw Survey Area : Break Down Of Boundary Type And Condition
| Stock proof wall sections alone | 4005m |
| Stock proof wall sections with attached upper level post and wire | 10667m |
| Derelict wall sections with continuous post and wire fence | 4015m |
| Replanted hedge banks | 190m |
| Hedge banks (remnant) with continuous post and wire fence | 1180m |
| Hedge banks with walls/wall foundations and post and wire fence | 195m |
| Post and wire fence alone | 4295m |
| Total | 24547m |
Area 4 presents a rather different situation to the previous areas. Dry stone walls predominate, accounting for 77% of the total; and of these walls 78% remain stock proof (60% of total boundaries). Their condition is generally good although there are great variations even along single sections of walls. They are constructed with neat courses of roughly squared carboniferous limestone or sandstone, with a number of sections standing to a height of 1.7m.
The frequency of the through stones varies but often there are two courses between 0.6 and 1.2m from the base of the wall, or one course at about the half way point and a coverband. The sections, which coincide with the course of Hadrian's Wall, are particularly well constructed as a result of the reuse of Roman material. However it was noted that the practice of mortaring top stones was having a detrimental effect. Walls naturally 'settle', but if top stones are bonded to each other voids will occur beneath and eventually lead to areas of collapse.
Hedge banks, which are limited entirely to the Hotbank holding, around High Shield, make up only 7% of the total boundaries and replanted sections account for only 12% of the total number of hedge banks. All other hedges are derelict or merely eroded remnants and redundant in the agricultural context.
Post and wire or sheep netting fences make up a proportion of the stock proof boundaries whether in association with redundant structures, or in isolation. 18% of boundaries are represented by fences alone and generally consist of sections where there have been no earlier boundaries. These are limited to the Greenlee and Stonefolds holdings and concentrated along the north side of Greenlee Lough.
