How did they build stone houses in the old days?

Question

I find it interesting, those old stone houses. What did they use exactly for the mortar? Clay? I assume it was just clay and rounded stone from nearby rivers.

Anyone know for sure?

Answer 1

It was s***n which Moses masturbated.

Answer 2

it was all built by one  man named Duncan and with the exception of the stone, it was all horse c**p, mostly anyway.

Anthony pittarelli

Answer 3

stones are not always from rivers- they were gathered from rock outcroppings and from stone quarries. Many towns had an entry fee at the gate- eg during feast days. The usual entry fee was 3 stones per cart (size of a head) and a fist-size stone per person. Cheap way of getting building materials.

burnt limestone for mortar, with various additives- including egg whites

concrete was used by the Romans but available only near volcanoes (they used volcanic ash)

Answer 4

You are right about the source of the stone - it would always be a local stone.  It's only with canals and railways that transporting building materials becomes viable.

For example in Norfolk in England, many houses are built of flint, because flint is plentiful in the area.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47685893@N0...

In the Cotswolds, they use the local honey coloured stone.

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/preview...

Mortar was originally clay or mud, but Egyptians discovered that burnt limestone could be used to make lime mortar - the Romans popularised it & it has been used right up until the present day.

See:

http://www.graymont.com/applications_his...