18-14.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECrS JOURNAL. 



57 



Norm:in anil Iransllion styles of arcliiteclure, a light coloured easy-working 

 limestone hns been obtained from some distance, while the lime-stone of the 

 locality, which is now preferred to any other material, and is conveyed to 

 distant places for use, lias been avoided excepting for the erection of the nn- 

 w rough! faces of the common walls. After the period in which these build- 

 ings were ei'ected, limestone appears gradually to have come into general use 

 in all parts, and now the directly 0|iposite custom prevails, limestone being 

 commonly used in sandstone districts ; and I have known masons when em- 

 jiloyed in working sandstone to ivliich they have been unaccustomed, to com- 

 [ilain of stiffness and swelling of the arms for some days occasioned by 

 the toughness of the stone, so diilerent to the brittle rebounding ellect of 

 the limestone. It is most probable that the brittle nature of the limestone, 

 in the working of which the Normans were not skilled, rendering it difficult 

 to shape into mouldings after the masonry was built, as was commonly their 

 custom, may have operated ag.ainst its use. Those interesting structures, the 

 round towers, on which so much that is evidently erroneous has been written, 

 appear from their architectural and constructive peculiarities to be decidedly 

 after the early Norman style of architecture. These edifices, of which Ire- 

 land has just reason to be proud, display to the practical geologist most in- 

 teresting models of simple constructive arrangement, erected as they are with 

 various kinds of rocks, including granite, slate, sandstime, and limestone, 

 and which are almost always the stones of the locality, excepting in the su- 

 perior dressed work of the doorways. Many antiquarian works of a recent 

 I'criod show very mistaken ideas as to the nature of the materials with which 

 these early buildings have been constructed, and, therefore, draw erroneous 

 conclusions. A very slight acquaintance with practical geology, and nothing 

 more than this society, from their collections, will be able toafl'ord,wid 

 lend to correct such errors; and it is most likely that such statements as 

 those of Colonel Morris, in his work on the round towers, (in which he de- 

 termines the red sandstone of some of these structures in the south to be 

 Roman brick, and deduces from this certain conclusions regarding their 

 origin.) will not be repeated. 



There is one more featuie connected with antiquarian research, upon which 

 I should wish to remark, viz., the peculiarity of some of the earliest Norman 

 architecture of this country. The architecture of the Normans in every 

 country in which it was introduced (though preserving all the general cha- 

 racteristics of Its early originals.) diliers in details. It clearly continued to 

 be the style of architecture in Ireland much later than in England, and e.x- 

 tended over a much longer perioil than in other countries, owing, doubtless, 

 to the peculiar and remote position of Ireland, at the western limits of Eu- 

 rope. It also frequently diders considerably from the Norman architecture 

 of England ; but it is in the early examples that the most distinctive details 

 occur: and here a peculiarity is devolveil, for which practical geology aflords 

 a ready and salistactory reason, for tlie very haid nature of the stone has 

 induced a ditlerent kind of ornament, and in several of the early examples 

 we find the most elaborate execution on almost square columns, or rather 

 jambs and architraves, quite at variance with the bold and deep cuttings so 

 common in the Norman style. Nor is such a result other than should be 

 expected, for they must have been deprived in those early ages of the facility 

 of obtaining softer stones. It was the practice of the Normans at an early 

 period to supply stones even to England, where soft oolitic stones abounded 

 in many parts; and when at a later period intercourse with Ireland improved, 

 we find that the stones of Normandy were brought to this country, and are 

 to be met wiih in many of the ecclesiastical buildings, more particularly on 

 the eastern coast. 



It may be said that the study of the different properties of the rocks of 

 the country, as regards their fitness (or building operations, relates more par- 

 ticularly to professional investigation— that matters of this kind should be 

 confined to the meetings of civil engineers and architects ; and that ibe Geo- 

 logical Society is constituted for scientific investigation of the theory of 

 geological phenomena connected with the structure of the earth's surface, 

 and for the study of the successive changes it has undergone in arriving at 

 its present state. To such an objection t would remark that, however in- 

 teresting the pursuit of such a science may be in its theory, and however 

 calculated to elevate the mind by reflecting on the wonderful architecture of 

 our earth, and the vast changes its surface has undergone in becoming suit- 

 able for the habitation of the human family, we shall yet stand far short of 

 obtaining all the advantages to be derived from this noble siudv if we con- 

 fine ourselves merely to the theory. Owing to the neglect of the study of 

 this science, designs are often prepared by architects and engineers, to whom 

 is intrusted the expenditure of very considerable sums, without sufficient re- 

 gard to the geology of the locality, the inquiry being confined to the qnes- 

 tion of cost, as to the nearest place from whence materials required to carry 

 out a particular design may be obtained. It has frequently happened that 

 stone has been brought from a great distance at considerable expense, when 

 rocksof an equal,'or of superior quality ab'jund in,thc vicinity, with regard to 

 which an acquaintance with this science might have reasonably afibrded infor- 

 mation. Numerous instances of such occurrences liave come under my own 

 observation within these last feiv years, where, either from sinking wells, or 



in making excavations of other kinds, or by chance trials for stones, there 

 have been unexpectedly discovered, at very great advantage in outlay and 

 frequent benefit to the contractors, some very valuable quarries ; in illustra- 

 tion of which I may mention a particular instance with which I am familiar, 

 in the discovery of a valuable working limestone quarry in the vicinity of a 

 nobleman's mansion, which, if earlier known would, I am informed by the 

 contractor, have saved him upwards of £1000 in the expense of procuring 

 stones, which he had to convey a distance of many miles, and which were of 

 an inferior ijuality to those which could have been obtained on the spot. 

 If the science of geology were made practically useful, such occurrences 

 would be r ire, and in time would be altogether avoided. 



The professional man is often deterred from tlie study of geology by the 

 dilTiculty of mastering the tcchnic ditics, if I may so term them, of the 

 science ; and the theoretical geologist on the other hand is untrble to appre- 

 ciate the wants of the other ; but acting together, the result « ould be mutu- 

 ally beneficial. The practical man would acquire the theory of the science 

 with much greater facility; the theoretical geologist defining tlie geogra- 

 phical outline of the (irincipal rock formations, an i by the existence of fos- 

 sils, and by recorded/facts, determining where similar formations may or 

 may not be expected to prevail ; the professional member would obtain spe- 

 cimens of the diflerent stones for experiment and chemical analvsis, which 

 in the yet imperfect state of geological science would most probably induce 

 new theories in regard to many rocks, where the gradation from one mineral 

 character to another is almost imiierceptible. The peculiar stratification or 

 dividing joints of the rocks are also features for profitable investigation. If 

 we examine the various kinds we find great differences to exist in the size 

 and shape of the masses into which they are subdivided ; and in the same 

 kinds of rocks we discover a subdivision peculiar to certain depths or other 

 influences. In all, however, we recognize the wonderful contrivance of the 

 Almighty in adapting the surface rocks of the earth to the want of indus- 

 trious man. The greater portion of these rocks (the result of sedimentary 

 deposition in water, of which the traces are still evident) occur In layers or 

 thin beds, so separated from each other as to admit of being easily raised ; 

 others, with beds of soft clay, or other matter interposed ; and, in the rocks 

 of the primary or igneous classes, among which are included granites, basalt, 

 &e., and which, occurring in large masses, would otherwise ffreqiiently be 

 unconvertible, we observe the wise provision of nature in Iraversin"- them 

 with joints or cleavages influenced by some prevailing law of crysialliaation 

 or polarization, not as yet, perhaps, sufficiently accounted for. In the more 

 solid masses, in which are included some of the limestone as well as other 

 rocks, from the effect of internal heat, great pressure and other causes, the 

 stratified form has disappeared ; while the same cause which has obliterated 

 the earlier divisions has itself produced others; and in some instances so 

 shattered is the upper portion of the rocks that the practical builder alto- 

 gether avoids them, although the removal of some feet from the surface 

 would frequently disclose a most vjiluable material. Hence the advantage 

 of scientific investigation and recorded facts. At the present time the want 

 of a society combining practical and theoretical inquiries cannot, I think, 

 but be manifest to all who contemplate the ordinary edifices of the present 

 day. A better acquaintance with geology, or what is the same thing, a 

 better knowledge of the rocks of the country, is essential to the production 

 of edifices wdiich will vie with those of past ages in durability, and harmo- 

 nious adaptation of design to the locality. And it is, I conceive, only by 

 correcting the public mind, and by giving assurance from experimental re- 

 sults and established facts, that a beneficial change can be efl'ected. 



Nor is the pursuit of this science unimportant as regards the commerce of 

 the country. Let us look to the article of slates. At the present time there 

 are several good quarries working, among which I may mention KiUaloe, 

 Valentia. and one more recently opened with great spirit by Mr. Synge in the 

 county of Wicklow (the slates from which resemble those from the Bangor 

 quarries) ; yet, such is the state of public opinion with regard to the native 

 slates as to preclude their general use ; and because at one period, in their 

 early working, the slates of this country were very inferior to those now 

 produced, the prejudice arose, and still continues, and no eflbrt has been 

 made to show by experimental inquiry, that Ireland contains slate quarries 

 more than sufficient to supply all her wants; and yet thousands of pounds 

 are annually going out of the country hi a direction from whicli there is no re- 

 ciprocal trade. I feel persuaded that it only requires the assurance w hich would 

 result from well directed eHurls of the Geological Society to cause, in a very 

 short period, the annual expenditure of sever.d thousands of pounds in the 

 country in raising a native material, by extending the use of it, whicli 

 money now unnecessarily goes to Wales ; and there is this circumstance at- 

 tending an increased demand, that the quality and economy of raising the 

 slates will be improved. I may speak from experience on this subject, 

 having used native slates in many instances; but from the little encourage- 

 ment given, and from the prejudice still remaining, though the cause is 

 chielly gone, the ]iroprietors liave to struggle with many disadvantages in 

 effecting a sale against their long cstiblished competitors who have a trade 

 in the Welch slates. In more than one instance the native slates have been 



