Drystone Walling Assessor / Instructor
Build and repair drystone walls to DSWA Craftmark standard — and assess or instruct others, supporting training programmes and craft qualification delivery.
High
Moderate
5–8 years: DSWA Foundation through to Master Craftsman (multiple practical assessments, several years of experience between levels), then Assessor/Instructor designation
DSWA Master Craftsman certificate or DSWA Assessor/Instructor qualification; DSWA Craftmark accreditation; LANTRA Drystone Walling NVQ; working at height certificate where applicable
typical
What you do
Drystone walling assessors and instructors hold advanced qualifications within the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) certification framework — typically the DSWA Master Craftsman certificate or Craftmark Assessor/Instructor designations — and combine hands-on walling work with delivery of training, assessment of candidates for DSWA certificates, and support for landowners, conservation bodies, and apprentices in developing drystone walling skills. The DSWA Craftmark is a recognised quality mark held by contractors who have demonstrated competency to DSWA standards.
Assessors examine candidates through practical walling assessments — judging build quality, speed, material efficiency, and finish against DSWA standard specifications. Instructors develop training programmes for beginners and improvers, deliver hands-on demonstration sessions, and support LANTRA and City & Guilds walling qualifications. Beyond the training role, specialist assessors are engaged by heritage bodies, the National Trust, and moorland estates for quality control and specification on large-scale walling restoration projects.
The DSWA operates a ladder of qualifications: Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced, and Master Craftsman certificates, each assessed practically in the field. The Drystone Walling NVQ (through LANTRA Awards) provides a further qualification route. Most assessors and instructors are self-employed contractors who combine their walling business with training and assessment income.
Why this career is resilient
The UK's drystone wall network — approximately 9,000 miles remain in upland England, Wales, and Scotland — requires constant repair as frost, overgrowth, and livestock damage cause collapses. Environmental stewardship and Countryside Stewardship scheme payments fund wall repair on agricultural land, creating a guaranteed financial mechanism for maintenance work. The DSWA certification framework creates professional differentiation that heritage bodies and stewardship scheme administrators use to specify and procure quality work. Assessors and instructors benefit from training income on top of their contracting base.
A typical day
Morning: wall repair contract on a Dales moorland farm — sort waste stone from a collapsed section, rebuild the footing course to correct height and batter, and begin lifting the main body of the wall working both faces, fitting hearting efficiently. Afternoon: Intermediate DSWA assessment — meet a candidate at the assessment site; brief them on the assessment task (rebuild a 3-metre section to DSWA Intermediate specification in 4.5 hours); observe, record evidence, and evaluate the finished build against the assessment criteria. End of day: complete the candidate's assessment record and recommend a pass.
Routes in
Full-time college course
Study full-time at a further education college, usually for 1–2 years. You will need to fund yourself or apply for a student loan (available for Level 4+ courses).
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Self-employed DSWA Craftmark contractor: £30,000–£50,000. Assessor/Instructor with additional training income: £35,000–£55,000.
Training costs: DSWA assessment fees: £60–£200 per level. Assessor/Instructor training: approximately £300–£600. Tools (hammers, chisels, lines): £100–£300. DSWA membership: approximately £35–£60/year.