It is possible that by you clearing the wall of ivy on your side, the considerable weight of the huge amount of ivy on the top of the wall and on your neighbours side contributed to the collapse as the fault line looks as if it runs along the soil level on your side.
My guess is the mortar has deteriorated, suffered water infiltration and frozen (several times)...and it may have already had a slight lean toward your neighbour
On top of this the neighbour's plants clearly had a significant role to play in dragging the wall down. If it was a structurally invasive type of ivy it would have made all the above problems much worse. They've got some cheek blaming you in the circumstances.
Get the vegetation cleared and the retaining portion of the wall checked before even thinking of rebuilding.
On the plus side there's a few quids worth of reclaimed bricks there.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
If it is your wall, I would just do what you fancy (a fence?) and not bother splitting the cost with the neighbour, who sounds like a PITA and more trouble than it's worth.
If it is your wall, I would just do what you fancy (a fence?) and not bother splitting the cost with the neighbour, who sounds like a PITA and more trouble than it's worth.
PITA??
He has had a brick wall fall onto his garden! And lets be fair - he hasn't planted Leylandii or other large trees - just a few mature shrubs from what I can see.
A wall which the OP said was their resposiblility... that being the case I think I would be a tad annoyed. (although to be fair he might, out of duty of care, mentioned its condition or at least carried out minor repairs)
Plus there must have been plenty of time to assess the condition of the wall prior to it failing (the OP must walk past it most days).....did you speak to your neighbour about it?
But all this goes back to OP saying they are responsible for it - if that "is" the case, fix it, but ask your neighbour to contribute for the reasons I've given.
Selling for reclaim is a good suggestion to recoup some cash.
Sometimes you've just got hold your hands up, say sorry and deal with it..(just as well it only fell on some plants eh?)
Plus... at the end of it all you will have a new attractive wall that will add to your home which you or your neighbour doesn't have to worry about - surely that saves months of petty squabbling that means both parties will probably never be on good terms.
I agree with Ian ... can't see that the neighbour has been unreasonable so far.
Just remember, if you're in a Conservation Area or your building or any others nearby are Listed, you may have to reinstate the wall 'as was' using the old bricks ... so don't sell them if that may be the case!
And check your household insurance ... it may be covered.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks all for advice. We aren’t sure it is our responsibility as our deeds say we’re definitely responsible for the other side of our house only. Neighbour is pressuring and hassling us daily whilst we’ve asked for him to bear with us whilst we find out if we are wholly responsible. I think the fact that we got a skip there and workmen to start lifting it all the very next day is pretty impressive and his behaviour is suggesting he may know he’s partially or wholly responsible. Clearly the fixing will cost a fortune. The fact there’s no mention of the wall in our 1939 deeds feels odd especially as it belonged to the old hospital that is now a big flat block out the back of neighbours.
Thanks again everyone and also for the selling bricks suggestion. Yes I have no issues with be neighbour obviously being concerned about his garden damage etc but he got a landscaper out the next day and told us the prices and that we have to pay and use him....he said I had 4 or 5 laurels and they are £150 each! Clearly not accurate and if it did end up being our responsibility (correction as in first post I did say it was our responsibility but more information came to light) we would get quotes and do it all properly.
Posts
It is possible that by you clearing the wall of ivy on your side, the considerable weight of the huge amount of ivy on the top of the wall and on your neighbours side contributed to the collapse as the fault line looks as if it runs along the soil level on your side.
Hopefully it will at least be a 50-50 job.
On the plus side there's a few quids worth of reclaimed bricks there.
You could also sell the bricks to a reclamation yard to recoup some of the cost.
Just remember, if you're in a Conservation Area or your building or any others nearby are Listed, you may have to reinstate the wall 'as was' using the old bricks ... so don't sell them if that may be the case!
And check your household insurance ... it may be covered.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.