Searching for the Glove of St Aldhelm Varian Tye August 2025
Photograph courtesy of the Swan at Kingsdown
I visited the Swan pub at Kingsdown the other day and, whilst looking at the various photographs of stone quarrying inside the pub, I noted one of a quarry called St Aldhelm’s. I had not seen this photo before and wondered where the quarry was located.
Aldhelm, the Man
I was already aware of the tale of St Aldhelm who is reputed to have thrown down his glove and said, " Dig and you shall find great treasure meaning the (Box Freestone) Quarry" at Hazelbury.[1] Aldhelm lived from about 639 to 709, claimed by some chroniclers to be the brother of King Ine of Wessex. He was a distinguished cleric, a follower of the Augustine tradition at Canterbury and a strict Benedictine. He was one of the most learned scholars of his day, translating Anglo-Saxon riddles into Latin, writing text books for monks, and invited by Pope Sergius I to visit Rome to discuss theology.
Aldhelm became abbot of Malmesbury Abbey and the first bishop of Sherborne. A well is named in his honour at Doulting, Somerset, which is reputed to mark the origin of the River Sheppey. The connection is interesting because Doulting was also a major stone quarrying area and the home of the Lambert family before they came to Box and set up a mason’s yard.
The connection with the Somerset village is due to Aldhelm’s death there on a visit in 709. Aldhelm’s body was returned to Malmesbury and crosses erected on the route. He was canonised after his death and a statue of him was erected on the west front of Salisbury Cathedral.
I was already aware of the tale of St Aldhelm who is reputed to have thrown down his glove and said, " Dig and you shall find great treasure meaning the (Box Freestone) Quarry" at Hazelbury.[1] Aldhelm lived from about 639 to 709, claimed by some chroniclers to be the brother of King Ine of Wessex. He was a distinguished cleric, a follower of the Augustine tradition at Canterbury and a strict Benedictine. He was one of the most learned scholars of his day, translating Anglo-Saxon riddles into Latin, writing text books for monks, and invited by Pope Sergius I to visit Rome to discuss theology.
Aldhelm became abbot of Malmesbury Abbey and the first bishop of Sherborne. A well is named in his honour at Doulting, Somerset, which is reputed to mark the origin of the River Sheppey. The connection is interesting because Doulting was also a major stone quarrying area and the home of the Lambert family before they came to Box and set up a mason’s yard.
The connection with the Somerset village is due to Aldhelm’s death there on a visit in 709. Aldhelm’s body was returned to Malmesbury and crosses erected on the route. He was canonised after his death and a statue of him was erected on the west front of Salisbury Cathedral.
Sculpture in Millennium Wood (courtesy Varian Tye)
Modern Memorial
The tributes to Aldhelm have continued into modern times with a stone sculpture in the Millenium Wood near the western portal of Box Tunnel, which was created by sculptor Carol Payne and dedicated by David Pollard, Box Parish Council and quarryman Frank (Tanky) Elms. The sculpture shows a quarryman’s gloved hand on top of blocks of unrefined quarry stone with quarry markings.
The tributes to Aldhelm have continued into modern times with a stone sculpture in the Millenium Wood near the western portal of Box Tunnel, which was created by sculptor Carol Payne and dedicated by David Pollard, Box Parish Council and quarryman Frank (Tanky) Elms. The sculpture shows a quarryman’s gloved hand on top of blocks of unrefined quarry stone with quarry markings.
Photograph of Quarry Stencils From Digging Bath Stone by David Pollard, courtesy of Lightmore Press, p.104
Aldhelm’s Quarry
In his book “Digging Bath Stone. A Quarry and Transport History” David Pollard noted the name "St Aldhelm" was included in a photograph of quarry stencils: "In the late 19th and 20th centuries it was common practice to stencil, the brand of stone and the block number on to the block in red ochre paint. From the left, the first two stencils are the registered trademarks of Monks Park and Box Ground Stone respectively, the third is of the Yockney and Hartham Park Stone Company and the fourth is a type of stone known as Corngrit".[2]
Further research led me to an article on the internet from the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society entitled "St Aldhelm Box Ground Stone Mine, written by Thomas Sturge Cotterell, JP, General Manager, who became manager of the Bath and Portland Stone Firms in 1903 and subsequently Mayor of Bath in 1930.[3] Like the Pictors of Box (who built Grade II listed houses Rudloe Manor and Fogleigh House), quarry owner Thomas Cotteral had his own grand house in Bath (now listed Grade II*). He commissioned Charles Voysey, an architect of international standing, to build Lodge Style in 1909. In his fascinating article about Bath buildings, Mike Chapman notes that the building is, "recognised today as the most important 20th century house in Bath and one of Voysey's most significant late buildings."[4]
Thomas Cotterall’s article refers to the stone quarries in Box. On page 13 he notes how stone at one quarry was "placed on a trolley and conveyed by horses to the loading station on the Great Western Railway, passing on tramlines through the fields" and on page 14 there is a reference to St Aldhelm Box Quarry. It would appear that St Aldhelm’s Quarry may therefore have been Clift Quarry, formerly the Pictor and Sons Quarry, the original entrance to which still survives off Box Hill. Was St Aldhelm's stencil used on the stone taken from this quarry during the late 19th and 20th centuries by the Bath and Portland Stone Firms?
In his book “Digging Bath Stone. A Quarry and Transport History” David Pollard noted the name "St Aldhelm" was included in a photograph of quarry stencils: "In the late 19th and 20th centuries it was common practice to stencil, the brand of stone and the block number on to the block in red ochre paint. From the left, the first two stencils are the registered trademarks of Monks Park and Box Ground Stone respectively, the third is of the Yockney and Hartham Park Stone Company and the fourth is a type of stone known as Corngrit".[2]
Further research led me to an article on the internet from the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society entitled "St Aldhelm Box Ground Stone Mine, written by Thomas Sturge Cotterell, JP, General Manager, who became manager of the Bath and Portland Stone Firms in 1903 and subsequently Mayor of Bath in 1930.[3] Like the Pictors of Box (who built Grade II listed houses Rudloe Manor and Fogleigh House), quarry owner Thomas Cotteral had his own grand house in Bath (now listed Grade II*). He commissioned Charles Voysey, an architect of international standing, to build Lodge Style in 1909. In his fascinating article about Bath buildings, Mike Chapman notes that the building is, "recognised today as the most important 20th century house in Bath and one of Voysey's most significant late buildings."[4]
Thomas Cotterall’s article refers to the stone quarries in Box. On page 13 he notes how stone at one quarry was "placed on a trolley and conveyed by horses to the loading station on the Great Western Railway, passing on tramlines through the fields" and on page 14 there is a reference to St Aldhelm Box Quarry. It would appear that St Aldhelm’s Quarry may therefore have been Clift Quarry, formerly the Pictor and Sons Quarry, the original entrance to which still survives off Box Hill. Was St Aldhelm's stencil used on the stone taken from this quarry during the late 19th and 20th centuries by the Bath and Portland Stone Firms?
If readers have any further information on the precise location of St Aldhelms Quarry and the use of the St Aldhelm stencil, in particular photos showing the use of the stencil on stone quarries in the area, please can you send to Box People and Places.
References
[1] John Aubrey, Wiltshire Topographical Collections, reprinted 1862 and corrected and enlarged by John Edward Jackson,
The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, p.58
[2] David Pollard, Digging Bath Stone, 2021, Lightmoor Press
[3] https://sanhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/09SturgeCotterell.pdf
[4] . Mike Chapman in his article, The Cotterall Room, for The Survey of Bath and District N0 31. 2016, page 14
[1] John Aubrey, Wiltshire Topographical Collections, reprinted 1862 and corrected and enlarged by John Edward Jackson,
The Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, p.58
[2] David Pollard, Digging Bath Stone, 2021, Lightmoor Press
[3] https://sanhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/09SturgeCotterell.pdf
[4] . Mike Chapman in his article, The Cotterall Room, for The Survey of Bath and District N0 31. 2016, page 14