Of the Portland stones, it is to be observed generally, that the dirt bed is full of fossil roots, trunks, and branches of trees, in the position of their former growth. The top cap is a white, hard, and closely compacted limestone. The skull cap is irregular in texture, and is a well-compacted limestone. The roach beds are always incorporated with the freestone beds, that invariably lie below them, and are full of cavities formed by the moulds of shells and the like. The top bed is the best stone, the bottom one ill cemented, and will not stand the weather. A middle or curf bed occurs only in the southernmost quarries on the east cliff; it is soft to the north, and hard to the south. The good workable stone in the east cliff quarries is generally less in depth than in the same bed in the west cliff quarries, but the east cliff stone is harder, more especially to the south of the island. The stone, even in the same quarries, varies considerably. That which contains flints will not stand the weather. The bottom bed on the west cliff is not a durable stone, though sold as a good stone in the London market. The best stone is in the northeastern part of the island; the worst in the south-western part. The annual consumption of the whole of the quarries in the island is equal to an area of one acre of the good workable stone, or about 24,000 tons. The entire area unworked is about 2000 acres. There are 56 quarries in the island, and about 240 quarrymen employed, of which number Messrs. Stewards employ usually about 138. 1665. The following very useful enumeration of the stones used in buildings of the island, arranged under that head, and divided into the sorts of stone employed in them, we add, verbatim, from the Report which we have so much used. The heads are under SANDSTONE buildings, LIMESTONE buildings, and MAGNESIAN LIMESTONE buildings SANDSTONE BUILDINGS. BAKEWELL, Derbyshire. The houses generally are of sandstone, and in fair condition. A new bank now erecting of sandstone from Bakewell Edge. BAKEWELL CHURCH (14th century), of a sandstone of the vicinity, very much decomposed. BARNARD CASTLE, Durham (14th century). Circular keep, apparently of Stenton stone, in excellent condition. In modern works, the Joint Stock Bank and Market-house of Stenton stone, in good condition. BELPER NEW CHURCH, Derbyshire. Built 10 years since, of sandstone from Hungerhill, in an incipient state (in parts) of decomposition. BLANDFORD PARISH CHURCH, Dorsetshire (1769). Of a green siliceous fine-grained sandstone, the dressings being of a stone similar to the Portland oolite; the former much decomposed; the latter in very good condition. Town Hall, about 80 years old, of stone similar to the Portland oolite, in good condition. BRANCEPETH CASTLE, Durham. Of ancient date, of sandstone of the vicinity; recently restored extensively; older parts in various states of decomposition. BRIAVEL'S, ST., CASTLE, Glocestershire. In ruins (13th or 14th century). Entrance gate way (the chief remains of the castle) built of red sandstone, decomposed. BRISTOL CATHEDRAL (13th and 14th centuries). Built of red sandstone and a yellow limestone (magnesian?) strangely intermixed; the red sandstone in all cases decomposed, the limestone more rarely decayed; the tracery, &c. of the windows, which are of the limestone, are in good condition; but the pinnacles and other dressings, which are of the same material, are much decomposed. The east end of the cathedral is a remarkable instance of the decay and preservation of the two stones employed. Norman gateway, west of the cathedral (the upper part of the 15th century); the Norman archway and its enrichments, which are of a very florid character, built of yellow limestone (magnesian?), in excellent condition. BYLAND ABBEY (12th century). In part of a siliceous grit (principally in the interior), and in part (chiefly on the exterior) of a compact oolite, from the Wass quarries in the vicinity. The west front, which is of the oolite, is in perfect condition, even in the dog's-teeth and other florid decorations of the doorways, &c. This building is covered generally with lichens. CARLISLE. Ancient buildings: Cathedral (13th century), of red sandstone, in various states of decomposition. Modern buildings: Many of red sandstone, more or less in a state of decomposition. CASTLE HOWARD, Yorkshire. Built generally of a siliceous fine-grained sandstone from the park; generally in good condition, but in some parts, such as the parapets, cupolas, and chimney shafts, much decomposed. The pilasters of the north front from a quarry at Appleton; in good condition, except where subjected to alternations of wet and dry, as in the plinths, where there are signs of decomposition. The stables are of Appleton stone, and in good condition. CHATSWORTH HOUSE, Derbyshire. Original house built of Bell Crop sandstone from Bakewell Edge, not in very good condition, particularly in the lower parts of the building. In the recent additions the same stone is employed, together with that of Bailey Moor and Lindrop Hill. CHEPSTOW CASTLE, Monmouthshire (11th and 12th centuries, with additions of the 14th century). Of mountain limestone and old red sandstone; the former in good condition; the latter decomposed. Dressings of doors, windows, archways, and quoins are for the most part of magnesian limestone, in perfect condition; the remainder is of red sandstone, and is generally much decomposed. Chapel (of the 12th century); mouldings and carvings of the windows, &c., which are of magnesian limestone, are in perfect condition. COXWOLD CHURCH, Yorkshire (15th century). Generally of fine siliceous grit of the vicinity, and in part of a calcareous nature. posed; lichens abundant on the north side. DERBY. St. Peter's Church (13th century), of the variegated coarse sandstone of the vicinity, similar to that of Little Eaton. The whole in bad condition; but the red stones less so than the grey or white. St. Almund's Church (of the 14th century), of a coarse sandstone of the vicinity, in a very decomposed state, to the obliteration of the mouldings and other details; it has lately been scraped and painted, to preserve it from further destruction. All Saints Church (tower of the 15th century), of sandstone, similar to that of Duffield Bank, partly in fair condition, and partly much decomposed, particularly the great western entrance. The body of the church, built 110 years since, of sandstone, in part decomposing. Modern buildings: Town Hall, of sandstone from Morley Moor, built a few years since, in very good condition. DURHAM CATHEDRAL (11th and 12th centuries). Of a sandstone of the vicinity, elected indiscriminately, and in all stages of decomposition; few stones are quite perfect. CASTLE (of the 11th century). Of similar stone, and in a similar state. EASBY ABBEY, Yorkshire (13th and 14th centuries). Of sandstone of the vicinity; mouldings and carvings decomposed and in part obliterated. Walls built very rudely, and in various states of decomposition; some parts, however, maintain their original surface. ECCLESTON ABBEY, Yorkshire (13th century). Of stone similar to that of the Stenton quarry. The mouldings and other decorations, such even as the dog's-teeth enrichments, are in perfect condition. EDINBURGH. Ancient buildings: Holyrood Chapel (12th century), of sandstone from the vicinity, in part much decomposed; in other parts, such as the west door, almost perfect. The palace (built in the 16th and 17th centuries) of similar stone, generally in good condition, the older parts being slightly decomposed. The oldest part of the Tron Church (1641), of sandstone, much decomposed. A house on the Castle Hill (1591), of sandstone, only slightly decomposed. Modern buildings, wholly erected of sandstones from the Cragleith, Red Hall, Humbie, and Binnie quarries, for the most from the first-mentioned quarry. None of them exhibit any appearance of decomposition, with the exception of ferruginous stains, which are produced upon some stones. Among the oldest is the Registry Office, which is of Cragleith stone, and built above sixty years since; it is in a perfect state. FOUNTAIN'S ABBEY, Yorkshire (11th and 12th centuries, with additions of the 16th century). Of coarse sandstone of the vicinity, generally in bad condition, particularly the west front, which is much decomposed. The nave and transept, which are the earliest portions of the building, are the best preserved. FOUNTAIN'S HALL, Yorkshire (1677). Of sandstone of the vicinity, and magnesian limestone in the dressings. The whole in fair condition. FOREST OF DEAN, Gloucestershire. Park End new church, built fifteen years since, of sandstone, similar to that of Colford. No appearance of decomposition. GLASGOW. Ancient buildings: High Church (12th century), sandstone of the vicinity, generally very much decomposed, particularly on the south side Old quadrangle of the College (James II.), of sandstone, decomposed. Modern buildings: Hunterian Museum (1804); superstructure said to be of stone from the President quarry; slight traces of decomposition on the south-west front. The basement of another sandstone, in a more advanced state of decomposition; other parts of the building are in an almost perfect state. The other buildings are generally erected of stone from the Giffneuch and other quarries in the immediate neighbourhood, except the new Exchange buildings, which are of stone from the Humbie quarry, thirty miles from Glasgow, recently erected, in which there are not any apparent symptoms of decomposition. GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL (Norman for the greater part, altered and cased in the 15th century), built of a fine-grained and ill-cemented oolite, a shelly oolite, and a red sandstone (north side) intermixed, of which the former constitutes the greater portion. The tower (15th century), of shelly oolite, in perfect condition. The early turrets of the south transepts are also in good condition. The body of the building is much decomposed. The great cloister is built of the same materials as the cathedral. The moulded and decorated work is in good condition, the other parts are more or less decomposed. The small cloister is built of a fine oolite with a compact cement, and is in good condition. THE NEW BRIDGE, of Whitchurch sandstone, parapets of Ruordean fine-grained sandstone, in good condition. HADDON HALL, Derbyshire (15th and 16th centuries). Of a fine-grained sandstone, similar to that of Lindrop Hill. The dressings, parapets, chimney shafts, quoins, &c. are wrought and rubbed; the remainder of the walls is of rough walling. The whole in fair condition. HARROWGATE. Cheltenham Pump Room, of sandstone from Woodhouse, near Leeds. Built recently. In good condition. Swan Hotel and other modern buildings, of a coarse sandstone of the vicinity; generally in good condition. HARDWICKE HALL, Derbyshire. (1597). Of a fine-grained sandstone, chiefly from a quarry in the hill on which the house is built, intermixed with a calciferous grit, similar to that of Mansfield; generally in good condition. The ashler is in parts decomposed, especially where it is set on edge. HOWDEN CHURCH, Yorkshire (15th century); partly of magnesian limestone, of a deep yellow colour, and partly of a coarse siliceous grit, of a ferruginous colour. Dressings and enrichments and the central tower are of the former stone; generally decomposed, particularly at the top of the tower. The other parts of the building, which are of the grit, are very much decomposed. KIRKSTALL ABBEY, Yorkshire (11th century). Of coarse sandstone of the vicinity, in various stages of decomposition according to the aspect. The east side is in fair condition; some of the zig-zag enrichments and early capitals and other enrichments of mouldings are in perfect condition. The windows of the chancel and tower (inserted in the 16th century) of a yellow sandstone, are for the most part gone, and what remains is much decomposed. MANSFELD TOWN HALL, Nottinghamshire. Built three years since, of magnesio-calciferous sandstone from Mansfield: no appearance of decomposition. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. Ancient buildings: St. Nicholas' Church (14th century), of sandstone of the vicinity, similar to that of the Heddon Quarry, very much decomposed. Parts restored within the last century, with the same stone, now decomposing, The upper part of the tower and spire restored within the last five years, and painted to preserve the stone from decay. Other ancient buildings, of the same stone, more or less in a state of decomposition, according to the date of their erection. Modern buildings, built within the last 25 years, of sandstone from the Felling and Church quarries at Gateshead and the Kenton quarry: parts already show symptoms of decomposition. PONTEFRACT CASTLE, Yorkshire (14th century). Built generally of a coarse grit, of a dark brown colour, occasionally mixed with an inferior magnesian limestone. The whole in a very decomposed state, more particularly the sandstone, in which all traces of the original surface are effaced. Fragments of magnesian limestone are embedded in several parts of the walls, with mouldings of the 12th century, in perfect condition. RABY CASTLE, Durham (14th century). Of sandstone of the vicinity: parts in a perfect state, others slightly decomposed. RICHMOND CASTLE, Yorkshire (11th century). The keep, of sandstone, similar to that of Gatherly Moor, generally in good condition; mouldings and carvings in columns of window in a perfect state. RIPON, Yorkshire. An obelisk in the market-place (1781), of coarse sandstone, much decomposed in laminations parallel to the exposed faces. |