Repair work is being carried out on an unusual wall in Fakenham.

North Norfolk District Council is fixing the Grade II-listed 'crinkle crankle' wall - behind the Fakenham Connect building and the town’s community centre - at a cost of £120,000. 

Dereham Times: North Norfolk District Council confirmed it was undertaking repairs to the Crinkle Crankle wall in FakenhamNorth Norfolk District Council confirmed it was undertaking repairs to the Crinkle Crankle wall in Fakenham (Image: Aaron McMillan)

The wall's serpentine, wavy appearance is protected by the listed status granted to it by Historic England.

The works, which should run through summer, will be overseen by historical consultant Doctor David Watt of Hutton and Rostron Environmental Investigations.

Crinkle crankle walls are thought to originate in ancient Egypt. There are many found in East Anglia, but they are relatively common in Suffolk, where there are more than 50 examples.

Their convex and concave curves give them strength, meaning they only need to be one layer thick, rather than two, which is common on other walls. 

Dereham Times: The Crinkle Crankle wall behind Fakenham's Connect buildingThe Crinkle Crankle wall behind Fakenham's Connect building (Image: Aaron McMillan)

This allowed the builder of Fakenham's wall to reduce the number of bricks used, possibly to avoid a brick tax initially imposed to pay for war loans incurred during the American Revolutionary War.