THE HOME OF GALLETING
AND PINNING
2023
Welcome to all my visitors.
The aim is to provide a reliable source of information about all aspects of galleting including its variety and distribution, its history and how it is used.
Everyone is welcome to use this website as a source of general information on galleting, a subject that is surprisingly broad and fascinating, on the understanding that this information is provided in good faith and within the limitations of current knowledge.
The contents are copyright and may not be used or reproduced without prior consent.
What is galleting
Galleting is the practice of inserting chips of stone into the wet mortar joints of masonry. However, originally the name almost certainly referred to the bedding of oyster shells into the bed joints.
The oyster shells were placed into position in the mortar to provide initial support to the next course of masonry blocks. This process would have stopped the soft mortar squeezing out of the joints.
By contrast a wall of random rubble stonework would frequently have chips of stone pressed into the soft mortar providing both structural strengthening and visual improvements by reducing the quantity of exposed mortar. Where the random rubble stonework was used in conjunction with dressed stones the name gallet was probably adopted for both the oyster shells and the chips of stone.
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The conservation of galleting is important for a number of reasons but the demands of conservation guidance not always fully understood.
To address this I have published a booklet which gives detailed information about the need for the conservation of galleting. It is an assessment of the guidance provided by Historic England, BS7913:2013 and the SPAB and explains how galleting fits in with these documents.
To obtain either a hard copy or digital version please contact me by email at cjarnott@galleting .com
Did you know?
GUERNSEY
That galleting may be found on Guernsey and was often of small black pebbles pushed into the mortar? - see gallery.
SURREY
In Surrey "galleting" is frequently referred to as "garneting". The author, Alec Clifton-Taylor descibed this as "can look like little necklaces, strung over the building's surface." (The Pattern of English Building, 1972)
PINNING
That the term "galleting" is primarily English. In other parts of the UK it is commonly referred to as "pinning" including Scotland where other terms such as "cherry cocking" and "cherry caulking" are also used.
Pinning in Scotland and Ireland frequently includes small square or rectangular pieces of stone, sometimes referred to as pups, in the vertical mortar joints.
OYSTER SHELLS
Gallets are usually thought of as small chips or flakes of stone but other materials such as oyster shells, small pieces of brick or clay tile, slate, indeed any stone substitute may be employed.
RENDER OR HARLING
Galleted masonry is not always visible as it may be hidden within the mortar of the joints or behind a coating of lime render.
GET IN TOUCH
I am always very pleased to hear from you and welcome your comments. Please let me have your photographs of interesting examples of galleting or pinning. These are used primarily in maintaining a record of galleted buildings but may also be used on this website to inform others who are interested in this subject.
Also tell me if there is any other information that you would like to see included on this site.
Galleting
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