Bargate stone is a highly durable form of sandstone. It owes its yellow, butter or honey colouring to a high iron content.[1] In some contexts it may be considered to be a form of ironstone[citation needed]. However, in the context of stone buildings local to the extraction of Bargate Stone, the term 'ironstone' is often used to refer to a darker stone, also extracted from the Greensand, which rusts to a brown colour.[2]
Sources
This stone was quarried for centuries in the Bargate Member of the Greensand Ridge, particularly where it is widest in south west Surrey, England. It occurs near the surface and was quarried in the hillsides near Godalming. Medieval quarries are still visible in Godalming, at the foot of Holloway Hill.[1]
Bargate stone is rare in current use due to its short supply.[2]Bath stone, Yorkstone and other similar coloured stone is sometimes used as alternatives, or to complement it[citation needed].
Petrography
Bargate stone is typically a mix of sandy bioclastic limestone and bioclastic sandstone. The intergranular cements comprise ferroan carbonate.[3]
Use
Bargate Stone is found in many buildings in Surrey, approximately 250 of which are listed, and in two churches in London.[4] It is endemic to older buildings near the Greensand Ridge where it is found.
Its 20th century use tended towards coursed use of Bargate sandstone with bricks, or concrete, sometimes with ashlar dressings or mortar rendering.[5]
Examples
Early medieval
Guildford Castle keep
The Keep at Guildford Castle.[6] It was a credit to the strength of Bargate that it was chosen for the main structure, standing on top of the natural chalk and Bargate stone bedrock, made it available by quarrying in the locality.
St Tarcisius Church, Camberley — the War Memorial Church to the British Catholic army officers who died in World War I. North Lady Chapel has triple arches and a stone reredos depicting the Virgin and Child and angels[31] Bath stone dressings[n 12]
