finished product

Step-by-Step

Check building codes to make sure you place the fence correctly in relation to your property line. Carefully plot the location of the stone posts. If you will be using 8-foot-long poles, you'll want the facing walls of the posts to be no more than 7-1/2 feet apart to provide support for the rails.

Begin by laying out and digging footings and the trench for the electric cable. Stake the corners of the fence and, using a mason's line stretched between the corner stakes, check for square using the "3-4-5" method (see Laying out Sites for Slabs, Related Projects). Stake the corners of each post.

Dig footing holes below the frost line or at least 32 inches deep. Dig them as you would for a column footing (see Building Column and Pad Forms, Related Projects), but make them as large as the stone posts will be. For posts with no lamppost, pour footings to within an inch of grade. See Figuring Concrete Needs and Buying Concrete, Related Projects for figuring concrete needs.

lamppost

Use the footing hole for the lamppost also. Dig the footing hole and a trench at least 12 inches deep for the electric cable. Run the cable to the post(s), making sure the cable entry hole is above the level of the concrete footing. Stabilize the post with bracing and pour in the concrete.

build posts

Build the ashlar stone posts using the techniques on Working with Mortar and Building Mortared Stone Walls, related projects. Make the posts from 42 to 48 inches tall. Leave the inside of the posts hollow. Insert rails loosely into the openings as you lay the stones, making sure rails are parallel to the ground. Use large stone pieces to cap off posts.