Crinkle-crankle wall

**BereniceUK** · 14th June 2009, 08:24

This one's in Neston,Wirral,in Cheshire. They're more often found in the East anglia region and this was the first example I've ever seen. The purpose of the design was for growing fruit,mostly dating in England from the mid-18th century. "The curving lines gave added strength, thus doing away with the need for buttressing."

**Indy500** · 14th June 2009, 19:46

Crinkle-Crankle. What a FAB name!

So when you say 'for growing fruit', how do you mean? Did it offer better protection? A more economic way of production in less space? And what sorts of fruits were grown? Trees? Vines? Sorry - full of questions!

**BereniceUK** · 14th June 2009, 20:50

The curves helped to trap the sunlight. Maybe a gardener can tell us why walls need buttressing and strengthening for fruit growing? Here's an example of buttressing -

**arnie187** · 14th June 2009, 21:13

cool interesting

**Hobbler** · 15th June 2009, 14:07

Curved walls provide protection from wind and frost as well as making a suntrap.

Buttressing may be needed when fruit trees are trained to grow along one face of the wall which adds weight to that side.

**Hawkmoon** · 15th June 2009, 15:22

They also provide a cool flow of air around the fruit which ripens them more evenly and reduces insect damage. Same as the vineyard slopes in france etc.