270 
stone should be laid in building as it originally lay in the quarry. 
It appears that by veins, and other markings, the lay of the Box 
ground stone can soon be learnt; but some of the other quarries 
that have a very fine grain considerable difficulty is experienced. 
Mr. Hancock mentioned what he considered a good test is sprinkling 
the surface with water and the direction the damp runs shews the 
bed of the stone, The grit of the Bath stone varies considerably, 
some kinds being more coarse than others, and each quarry has 
its speciality. Thus Box ground is what is called a good weather 
stone, that is suitable for outside work, while Corsham and 
Monks’ park are more suited for inside work, and carving, being 
of a finer grain and free from veins. It might be added that 
Corsham stone was first discovered in making Box tunnel; the 
depth of this bed is about 16 to 24 feet. As the party proceeded 
onward a beautiful sight came in view, a shaft, called by the 
workmen the Cathedral, delighted all beholders. From an 
artistic point of view nothing could have been finer, the light 
from above catching the various faces and edges of the beds from 
the ground above, to the workings below, a distance of about 90 
feet. From a geological point of view it was interesting as giving 
a section of the hill, from the building bed to the surface. It was 
a cause of great regret that a photograph could not be taken of 
this beautiful and romantic shaft. The party proceeding into the 
regions of gloom again came upon a working party who were in 
the act of moving a large block of freestone from its original bed 
and Mr. Hancock explained thoroughly the process, and the tools 
used. There was also an enormous block of stone, estimated to 
weigh six tons, being scalped (a kind of rough facing, done with 
marvellous accuracy) by two workmen. In winter as building 
operations generally cease, the store of stone increases, as the 
work can go on continually in the quarries summer or winter, as 
there is little change of temperature. The Bath stone firms 
frequently have 2,000,000 tons on hand ready for disposal. 
Proceeding onwards the party were shown some faults in the 
