Hamstone
Encyclopedia
Hamstone is the colloquial name given to stone from Ham Hill, Somerset, England. Hamstone is a Jurassic
limestone
from the Toarcian
, or Upper Lias, stage. It is a well cemented medium to coarse grained limestone characterised by its honey-gold colour and marked bedding planes. The stone contains thin beds of less well cemented material and some small clay inclusions. These areas weather differentially to give weathered hamstone its characteristic furrowed appearance.
In the 19th century there were 24 small quarries operating on the hill employing some 200 men. In later Victorian times industrial quarrying really took off with upwards of 200 small family run quarries and masonry businesses operating on site. Today Hamstone is only quarried in two areas on the top of Ham Hill. The North quarry, near the modern stone circle and war memorial, is the longest running Hamstone quarry in existence and extracts stone from just beneath the surface, it is quarried by Ham & Doulting Stone. The southern, Norton Quarry extracts its stone from some 20–30 metres below the surface and is quarried by Harvey Stone. This quarry was reopened around 15 years ago, having been the last quarry abandoned in the 1930s due to there being, according to the masons working the hill "no good quality stone left". Both quarries are owned by the Duchy of Cornwall
.
Described by Simon Jenkins
as "the lovliest building material in England," golden hamstone is soft enough to be cut to make decorative features such as doorway arches and bell openings in church towers such as at the Church of St Mary at Chedzoy
, Somerset. The attractive color also contributes to its being chosen by masons and architects for more than 1000 years for adorning the buildings in the countryside of surrounding Somerset
. Hamstone is featured in the medieval church towers
throughout the county, and the town of South Petherton
, for example, is built largely of hamstone.
Besides being used for building, Hamstone was also burnt locally in small kilns for the manufacture of lime. This was predominantly for local use as fertiliser. Some was used for the manufacture of builders mortar and limewash render, but the results were of poor quality due to the iron content of the stone. Mortar made from Hamstone invariably failed, often washing away, while limewash would blister and bubble, eventually falling from the wall. At least two limekilns still exist: one close to the abandoned medieval hamlet of Witcombe, with another close to Norton Quarry
Jurassic
The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Mya to Mya, that is, from the end of the Triassic to the beginning of the Cretaceous. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic era, also known as the age of reptiles. The start of the period is marked by...
limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
from the Toarcian
Toarcian
The Toarcian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, an age or stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic. It spans the time between 183.0 Ma and 175.6 Ma...
, or Upper Lias, stage. It is a well cemented medium to coarse grained limestone characterised by its honey-gold colour and marked bedding planes. The stone contains thin beds of less well cemented material and some small clay inclusions. These areas weather differentially to give weathered hamstone its characteristic furrowed appearance.
In the 19th century there were 24 small quarries operating on the hill employing some 200 men. In later Victorian times industrial quarrying really took off with upwards of 200 small family run quarries and masonry businesses operating on site. Today Hamstone is only quarried in two areas on the top of Ham Hill. The North quarry, near the modern stone circle and war memorial, is the longest running Hamstone quarry in existence and extracts stone from just beneath the surface, it is quarried by Ham & Doulting Stone. The southern, Norton Quarry extracts its stone from some 20–30 metres below the surface and is quarried by Harvey Stone. This quarry was reopened around 15 years ago, having been the last quarry abandoned in the 1930s due to there being, according to the masons working the hill "no good quality stone left". Both quarries are owned by the Duchy of Cornwall
Duchy of Cornwall
The Duchy of Cornwall is one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster. The eldest son of the reigning British monarch inherits the duchy and title of Duke of Cornwall at the time of his birth, or of his parent's succession to the throne. If the monarch has no son, the...
.
Described by Simon Jenkins
Simon Jenkins
Sir Simon David Jenkins is a British newspaper columnist and author, and since November 2008 has been chairman of the National Trust. He currently writes columns for both The Guardian and London's Evening Standard, and was previously a commentator for The Times, which he edited from 1990 to 1992...
as "the lovliest building material in England," golden hamstone is soft enough to be cut to make decorative features such as doorway arches and bell openings in church towers such as at the Church of St Mary at Chedzoy
Church of St Mary, Chedzoy
The Anglican Church of St Mary in Chedzoy, Somerset, England dates from the 13th century and has been designated as a grade I listed building....
, Somerset. The attractive color also contributes to its being chosen by masons and architects for more than 1000 years for adorning the buildings in the countryside of surrounding Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. Hamstone is featured in the medieval church towers
Somerset towers
The Somerset towers are a collection of distinctive, mostly spireless Gothic church towers in the county of Somerset in south west England.Where beautiful castles and church spires rise above other parts of England, the crowning glory of many Somerset towns and villages is these medieval church...
throughout the county, and the town of South Petherton
South Petherton
South Petherton is a small country town and civil parish on the River Parrett in the South Somerset district of Somerset, England. It is east of Ilminster and north west of Crewkerne. It had a population of approximately 3,200 in 2002...
, for example, is built largely of hamstone.
Besides being used for building, Hamstone was also burnt locally in small kilns for the manufacture of lime. This was predominantly for local use as fertiliser. Some was used for the manufacture of builders mortar and limewash render, but the results were of poor quality due to the iron content of the stone. Mortar made from Hamstone invariably failed, often washing away, while limewash would blister and bubble, eventually falling from the wall. At least two limekilns still exist: one close to the abandoned medieval hamlet of Witcombe, with another close to Norton Quarry