506 O A* THE PRICE OF BUILDING MATERIALS. 



in procuring the article. It is only by noting the rise or fall 

 of the price at the same place that any further inference can 

 be derived. 



Stone for building purposes is known by many names, 

 indicating its origin, character, condition as a partly manu- 

 factured article, and purpose. Rag-stone for instance at 

 Oxford means the ordinary product of the Headington quarries 

 from which the shell of the numerous stone structures in that 

 city have been regularly constructed from very early times. 

 But the stone, though carefully selected and laid, does not 

 weather well, and its edges have to be dressed, or its face 

 covered by a harder and more durable product. This, as far 

 as Oxford is concerned, is generally supplied from Burford or 

 Taynton, as it was from early times. 



Stone is bought by the load, the ton, and the foot. I 

 conclude that the load and the ton are generally identical, and 

 that as a rule the load contained about four cubic feet. There 

 are occasions however, as in 1610 when Wadham College was 

 built, on which the load is two tons and upwards. But in the 

 same year, unless the qualities are, as is likely, different, the 

 load looks less than the ton. I shall deal with Oxford prices 

 first. 



In Oxford, rag, the cheapest kind of stone, is ordinarily in 

 the early years bought at 4d. the foot and is. 4d. the load. 

 But in the first year it cost at Oxford a little over $d. a foot, 

 and the city buys eleven loads at u., and one at even 8d. 

 The civic corporation gives is. 4d. a load for paving rag. In 

 1584 freestone is 2s. 6d. and 2s. %d. the load, while another kind, 

 almost certainly rag, is is. 6d. In 1585 New College buys at 

 is. iod., including the carriage ; Magdalen College at is. t 

 probably without carriage. The city buys sixteen loads at 

 iod., and thirteen paving rag at is. o\d.> the carriage of the 

 former being $d. a load more, i.e. it is plainly procured from 

 Headington. In 1586 stone is again is. 8d., but paving-rag is 

 $d. a foot, and ordinary stone i s. 8d. In 1587 stone is 2s. q\d., 

 and the city buys three loads at is. 6d. carried, and fourteen 



