Bargate stone
Encyclopedia
Bargate stone is a highly durable form of sandstone
, which was quarried for centuries in south west Surrey
, England
- particularly around Guildford
and Godalming
. It owes its yellow, ‘butter’ colouring to the high iron oxide
content.
Bargate is to be found in many buildings in this part of Surrey, where it has been used for the best part of 1,000 years. One of the earliest surviving examples is the Keep
at Guildford Castle. It was a credit to the strength of Bargate that it was chosen for the main structure, standing on top of the natural chalk
bedrock, which would have been more readily available. The same stone was used in Godalming Parish Church
, which dates back to Saxon times.
In more recent years, it was used to construct Charterhouse School
(completed 1872), and was also favoured by locally based architect Edwin Lutyens
for much of his domestic work.
Bargate is rarely used today, although the medieval quarries can still be seen in Godalming, at the foot of Holloway Hill.
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, which was quarried for centuries in south west Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
- particularly around Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
and Godalming
Godalming
Godalming is a town and civil parish in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, south of Guildford. It is built on the banks of the River Wey and is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt. Godalming shares a three-way twinning arrangement with the towns of Joigny in France...
. It owes its yellow, ‘butter’ colouring to the high iron oxide
Iron oxide
Iron oxides are chemical compounds composed of iron and oxygen. All together, there are sixteen known iron oxides and oxyhydroxides.Iron oxides and oxide-hydroxides are widespread in nature, play an important role in many geological and biological processes, and are widely utilized by humans, e.g.,...
content.
Bargate is to be found in many buildings in this part of Surrey, where it has been used for the best part of 1,000 years. One of the earliest surviving examples is the Keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
at Guildford Castle. It was a credit to the strength of Bargate that it was chosen for the main structure, standing on top of the natural chalk
Chalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous sedimentary rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Calcite is calcium carbonate or CaCO3. It forms under reasonably deep marine conditions from the gradual accumulation of minute calcite plates shed from micro-organisms called coccolithophores....
bedrock, which would have been more readily available. The same stone was used in Godalming Parish Church
Godalming Parish Church
The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul is a church that is located in Godalming, Surrey, England.-History:A church has stood on the site of Saint Peter and Saint Paul since at least the mid-ninth century...
, which dates back to Saxon times.
In more recent years, it was used to construct Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
(completed 1872), and was also favoured by locally based architect Edwin Lutyens
Edwin Lutyens
Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA was a British architect who is known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era...
for much of his domestic work.
Bargate is rarely used today, although the medieval quarries can still be seen in Godalming, at the foot of Holloway Hill.