The magical walls of Suffolk, which conquered Britain with their wavy shape (13 photos + 1 video)

In the county of Suffolk in the east of England, you can find amazing garden walls that locals call crinkle-crankle.





Their wavy shape, reminiscent of a sinusoid, is not just an architect's whim, but a brilliant engineering solution.



Unlike straight walls that require additional supports or a massive foundation, the curved structure of such fences provides them with incredible stability. Even being only one brick thick, they do not need supports, since the waves themselves perfectly withstand winds and other loads.





These unique walls appeared in the 17th century, when Dutch engineers were draining the marshes in the region. Brick architecture was fashionable at the time, and the wavy walls were ideal for the damp and unstable soil of East Anglia. Some of them reach a height of 50 bricks and are decorated with decorative patterns.



But the main bonus of such walls turned out to be unexpected: they are perfect for growing fruit trees. Concave sections concentrate the sun's heat and protect early flowering crops from the wind. To maximize this effect, many walls were oriented from east to west, so that one side always faced the sun.



Suffolk resident Ed Broom has documented more than a hundred such walls in his county, many of which have the status of architectural monuments.