Visits to Great Industries: Stone Quarries of Messrs Pictor and Sons 1883
Extracts of The British Architect, 23 March 1883, Suggested by John Froud
Extracts of The British Architect, 23 March 1883, Suggested by John Froud
Many years ago, in a selection of loose papers held at the old Bath Reference Library, I came across a poor photocopy about the Great Industry of Stone Quarrying run by Pictor & Sons. It was just the introductory paragraph of an article in The British Architect dated 23 March 1883. It took until 2018 before I sought out the original in the British Library. Here are extracts of relevant parts relating to Box, omitting some of the author’s general meanderings but including the marvellous sketch drawings which accompany the original.
Amongst the many great quarrying industries of this country none, perhaps, possess more of interest for the architectural profession than that (where) we obtain the best known and most extensively used of our building stone – the freestone of the Great Oolite, commonly called Bath stone. We have jotted down a few of the more interesting details incidental to Bath stone quarrying gleaned from a recent visit to Messrs Pictor’s Box and Corsham quarries.
Pictor’s Offices shown in the illustration still exist close to entrance to the Clift Quarry above Box Hill Motors.
Making our way to the entrance of the Box Ground workings, we come upon the offices, effectively disposed on the side of the hill, and affording a pleasant example of the use of the Box Ground stone. Near here too are are large (work)shops for the construction of cranes and machinery, and also railway and tram waggons, of the former of which Messrs Pictor have about 150 in constant use. Our “special” train has been got ready. Without exception, we do not think we have seen a more thoroughly ugly bit of machinery than the steam infant Hercules, which is to convey us into the interior of the hill before us. Nor is our delight increased with it when, as we plunge into the black darkness of the smoke and steam which it evolves from out its ugly carcase.
As we get accustomed, however, to the darkness and smoke, things mend a little, after a mile or two we become aware of a greater height in the tunnel, and some distance ahead of us a welcome gleam of lurid light, on reaching which we come to a standstill. Here, having reached the terminus of the heading along which we have come, we alight. There is something of picturesqueness in the sight before us. Through the gloomy light we observe one gang of men working at the continuation of the heading, whilst another lot of men are engaged with heavy lever bars and wedges in “shaking” loose those parts of the stone blocks which cannot be got at with the saw, a large crane securely fixed to the floor and roof of the tunnel assisting in the operation by means of a chain attached to a “lewis” in the stone.
As we get accustomed, however, to the darkness and smoke, things mend a little, after a mile or two we become aware of a greater height in the tunnel, and some distance ahead of us a welcome gleam of lurid light, on reaching which we come to a standstill. Here, having reached the terminus of the heading along which we have come, we alight. There is something of picturesqueness in the sight before us. Through the gloomy light we observe one gang of men working at the continuation of the heading, whilst another lot of men are engaged with heavy lever bars and wedges in “shaking” loose those parts of the stone blocks which cannot be got at with the saw, a large crane securely fixed to the floor and roof of the tunnel assisting in the operation by means of a chain attached to a “lewis” in the stone.
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In a deep pit, not far off, a man sits sawing down through the stone, and to our right we see another muscular toiler picking out a clear space of some 9 inches, near the top of the vault, for the insertion of the saw. The latter seems an arduous ask … above the level of the worker’s head, an awkward position whether standing as in this case or lying on one’s back. In clearing this space for the saw, the work of the pick has to be assisted by means of a “jad” (a round bar) which partly breaks the stone out, and at the same time works into the corners where the pick is useless.
Briefly put, there are three distinct operations involved in the getting out of the stone from its bed: 1. The clearing out of a sufficient space for the insertion of the saw (the most laborious of the three); 2. The sawing of the stone down as many sides as possible; and 3. The “shaking” from their hold of those sides which cannot be got at by the saw. The getting of the stone is all piecework undertaken by gangs of men at so much per foot. Certain headings are allotted to a gang of men who work them out. The object of the men is to get out the blocks of as great a size as possible, but they are limited to some extent by the fact that the largest size which can be readily conveyed by rail is about 7 tons in weight. Blocks can be obtained, however, containing from 90 to 200 cubic feet.
Of course, it is obvious that a large quantity of good stone has to be left in the form of pillars to support the roof of the workings in various large openings. To prevent any unnecessary waste, care is exercised in the manipulation of the quarrying tools; the lewis for instance is not applied where it can be avoided since, wherever a “lewis” hole comes, a measure of cubic feet is lost.
The depth of solid stone here exposed to view is at least 25 feet.
(In some of the old workings) fir wood props present a very beautiful appearance, being covered with magnificent specimens of fungoid growth. Clusters of bats, hanging head downwards, may also be seen in various nooks and corners. In other parts we find thousands of tons of stone piled up in stacks, waiting to be taken above ground to weather during the ensuing summer and autumn, ready for use next winter. Two travelling cranes on either side being used in moving the stone on to or from the two lines of tramway in the centre. In the first place, the softer varieties of stone require considerable care in weathering or seasoning as, when first obtained, they contain quarry damp.
Briefly put, there are three distinct operations involved in the getting out of the stone from its bed: 1. The clearing out of a sufficient space for the insertion of the saw (the most laborious of the three); 2. The sawing of the stone down as many sides as possible; and 3. The “shaking” from their hold of those sides which cannot be got at by the saw. The getting of the stone is all piecework undertaken by gangs of men at so much per foot. Certain headings are allotted to a gang of men who work them out. The object of the men is to get out the blocks of as great a size as possible, but they are limited to some extent by the fact that the largest size which can be readily conveyed by rail is about 7 tons in weight. Blocks can be obtained, however, containing from 90 to 200 cubic feet.
Of course, it is obvious that a large quantity of good stone has to be left in the form of pillars to support the roof of the workings in various large openings. To prevent any unnecessary waste, care is exercised in the manipulation of the quarrying tools; the lewis for instance is not applied where it can be avoided since, wherever a “lewis” hole comes, a measure of cubic feet is lost.
The depth of solid stone here exposed to view is at least 25 feet.
(In some of the old workings) fir wood props present a very beautiful appearance, being covered with magnificent specimens of fungoid growth. Clusters of bats, hanging head downwards, may also be seen in various nooks and corners. In other parts we find thousands of tons of stone piled up in stacks, waiting to be taken above ground to weather during the ensuing summer and autumn, ready for use next winter. Two travelling cranes on either side being used in moving the stone on to or from the two lines of tramway in the centre. In the first place, the softer varieties of stone require considerable care in weathering or seasoning as, when first obtained, they contain quarry damp.
In Messrs Pictors’ works we have two general varieties of stone – Box Ground (of which there appears to be an unlimited supply), most generally suitable for exterior work, and Corsham Down, best for interior work. Much of the stone is worked before leaving Messrs Pictor’s. One of the primary rules is that it should always be cut clean with a sharp instrument and a good surface obtained by means of a drag. Hard veins should not be hammered down causing a bruise. The carriage of dressed stone is a saving of cost, considerably less than if the stones are sent en bloc. In placing the stone in situ in the building, the general rule is (to place them) in the same position in which they were deposited in the quarry, it is technically termed “on their natural bed”. Cornices and copings would have the stones placed with their natural bed at right angles to the face; that is placed vertically. For balusters the natural bed would of course run in the direction of their length. For fixing the stone, the “bitle” used for driving the stone home should be made of soft withy.
Varieties of Pictors’ Stone
We now mention a few of the varieties of stone from Messrs Pictor’s quarries:
We now mention a few of the varieties of stone from Messrs Pictor’s quarries:
- Box Ground – good weathering stone suitable for all damp positions near ground level
- Corsham Down – usually used for sculpture and mouldings
- Corngrit – taken from below the above is adapted for weight-carrying purposes
- Farleigh Down – suitable for carving
- Stoke Ground, Winsley Ground, Westwood Ground and Bethel- interior work.
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Amongst the many buildings in which the stone has been used are: Bath Abbey, Balliol and Kemble Colleges Oxford, Corn Exchange Cambridge, Guildhall Chambers Manchester, Arundel Cathedral, Midland Railway Station Bath….
The growth of its (use) may be evidenced by the annual output between two and three million cubic feet whilst the stocks generally total some 300,000 cubic feet. As explained in the introduction to this piece, the above is an extract from the original which runs to three pages and is full of discourses. When written, it was an attempt to explain and record the intricacies of stone quarrying as well as the appropriate uses for various Bath stone types to an architectural audience. Now that the trade has ceased in the area, it provides a fascinating contemporary report, seen by someone who was there at the height of the quarrying industry in Box. |
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The original document is now available to view on Google Books at https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/9rMQAQAAMAAJ?gbpv=1