4^2 THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE.

Book
TI.
in that part of tlie eountry, attest the durability of the Shelley oolite, termed Barnack Rag,
with the exception of those portions of some of them for which the stone has been ill-
selected. The excellent condition of those parts which remain of Glastonbury Abbey show
the value of a shelly limestone similar to that of Doulting, whilst the stone employed in
Wells "Cathedral, apparently of the same kind and not selected with equal care, is in part3
decomposed. The mansion, the church, and the remains of the abbey at Montacute, as
also many other buildings in thrt vicinity, constructed of the limestone of Ham Hill, are
in excellent condition. In Salisbury Cathedral, built of stone from Chilmark, we have
evidence of the general durability of a siliciferous limestone; for, although the west front
has somewhat yielded to the effects of the atmosphere, the excellent condition of the build-
ing generally is most striking.
16G0.
"
In the public buildings of Oxford, we have a marked instance both of decom-
position and durability in the materials emjiloyed
;
for whilst a shelly oolite, similar to that
of Taynton, which is employed in the more ancient parts of the cathedral, in Me-.ton
College Chapel, &e., and commonly for the plinths, string-courses, and exposed portions oT
the otlier edifices in that city, is generally in a good st:ite of preservation, a calcareous stone
from Heddington, employed in nearly the whole of the colleges, churches, and other public
buildings, is in such a deplorable state of decay, as in some instances to have caused
all traces of architectural decoration to disappear, and the ashler itself to be in many places
deeply disintei;rated,
ICG'l.
"
In Spofforth Castle we have a striking example of the unequal decomposition
of two materials, a magnesian limestone and a sandstone ; the former employed in the
decorated parts, and the latter for the ashler or plain facing of the walls. Although the
magnesian limestone has been equally exposed with the sandstone to the decom])osing
effects of the atmosphere, it has remained as perfect in form as when first employed, wliile
the sandstone has suffered considerably from the effects of decomposition.
1 G62.
"
In Chepstow Castle, a magnesian limestone in fine preservation, and a red sand-
stone in an advanced state of decomposition, may be observed, both having been exposed to
the same conditions as parts of the same archways ; and in Bristol Cathedral there is a
curious instance of the effects arising from the intermixture of very different materials,
a yellow limestone and a red sandstone, which have been indiscriminately employod both
for the plain and decorated parts of the building
;
not only is the appearance in this case
unsightly,
but the architectural effect of the edifice is also much impaired by the unequal
decomposition of the two materials, the limestone having suffered much less from decay
than the sandstone.
1663.
"
Judging, therefore from the evidence afforded by buildings of various dates,
there would appear to be many varieties of sandstone and limestone employed for building
purposes which successfully resist the destructive effects of atmospheric influences;
amongst these the sandstones of Stenton, Whitby, Tlntern, Kivaulx, and Cragleith, the
magnesio-calciferous sandstones of IMansfield, the calciferous sandstone of Tisbury, the
crystalline magnesian limestones, or Duloinitts of Bolsover, Huddlestone and Roche Abbey,
the oolites of Byland, Portland, and Ancaster, the Shelly oolites and limestones of Barnack
and Ham Hill, and the siliciferous limestone of ('hilmark appear to be amongst the mcst
durable. To these, which may all be considered as desirable building materials, we are inclined
to add the sandstones of Darley Dale, Humbie, Longannet, and Crowbank, the magnesian
limestones of Robin Hood's Well, and the oolite of Ketton, although some of them may
not have the evidence of ancient buildings in their favour." The Report upon which we
have drawn so largely, and from which we shall extract still larger drafts, then proceeds to
close by a preference to limestones on account "of their more general uniformity of tint,
their comparatively homogeneous structure, and the facility and economy of their con-
version to building purposes," of which it prefers the crystalline
;
on which account, and its
combination with a close approach to the etiuivalent proportions of carbonate of lime and
carbonate of magnesia, for uniformity in structure, facility and economy in conversion, and
for advantage of colour, the parties to the Report prefer the magnesian limestone or
dolomite of Bolsover Moor and its neighbourhood. The Report deserves every commend-
ation
;
upon ;he whole it has been well done, and is the first scientific step the government of
this country has ever taken in respect of practical architecture. It, moreover, only cost the
moderate sum of l,400, including the many collections of specimens deposited in various
iinstitutions for reference.
1664. The following table presents a synoptical, and, to the architect, important vie^v of
the relative value, in every respect, of the principal species of stone which the various pr-'-
vinces of England affoid for building purposes. It is taken from the Report s) much
quoted, the list of stones being consdirably alridged. We should direct attention to
the fact that facilities of conveyiince have greatly modified the cost of each stone in London.
It will be well idso to notice the valuable
"
Quarry Returns" of building and other stones,
the produce of Ihe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Iri land, ijubllshed in liie
Memoirs
(if
the Gcoltyknl Survey
of
Great Britain, &c., and edited by Rob.rt Hunt, beiiig
Part II. for 185S, but published in 1860.