170 SOME LOCAL STONE MARKS. 



According to Mr. Wallis, however, these measures are not the 

 normal or statute feet and inches. He informs me by letter that 

 " the proper length of a three-foot rule for Portland stone is really 

 3ft. 0|in. A quarter of an inch on the foot is generally allowed, 

 but the rule is sometimes longer, because by cutting the strokes 

 the iron is lengthened. The quarrymen like to have the rule a 

 little longer, so that the stone shall hold the measure after it has 

 been squared with the tool. If the stone did not hold its thick- 

 ness at one side by one inch it would make 1| cubic feet difference 

 in the size of a block 4ft. x 5ft. x 3ft. Sin. Moreover all the 

 blocks are measured one inch longer than they are called. Tliis 

 extra inch Avas in former times allowed for jack-holes that they 

 were obliged to make in turning the stone about before the ' crane ' 

 was introduced." 



A block completely marked would look something like this (2). 



The explanation is this : the block belongs to Giles and Co., as 

 quarry owners. It comes from H. Otter's quarry (Whitbed), 

 contains 29ft. Gin. cube or 1 ton, 13ft. 6in., and the number of the 

 block is 222. I am indebted for this drawing and other informa- 

 tion to Mr. Stroud, of Weymouth and Dorchester, so far as 

 concerns Portland stone. 



Through the intermediacy of Mr. Jas. Andrews, of Swanage, I 

 have been favoured with an able and interesting account of the 

 marks used in the Purbeck quarries and compiled by Mr. F. A. 

 Burt, a considerable quarry owner and a member of our Field Club. 



Blocks of stone not being obtainable in Purbeck, the cubic con- 

 tents are not required. The marks therefore have reference to 

 superficial feet in the case of "flag," and "pecks" in the case of 

 " sinks." It is interesting to note tliat the notation is identical 

 with that in use at Portland, so that I need not describe it in 

 detail. Mr. Burt is unable to explain Avhat sort of " pecks " the 

 quarrymen mean. The term seems to be used in a conventional 

 sense only. They allege that the custom was followed by their 

 fathers and grandfathers before them. The peculiarity is this, that 

 in order to get at the so-called capacity, the sink is measured on 



