CHAPTER VI. 



STONES. 



I WILL begin with freestone (lap-is arenarius), as the best kind of stone that this country doth 

 afford. 



The quarre at Haselbury [near Box] was most eminent for freestone in the western parts, before 

 the discovery of the Portland quarrie, which was but about anno 1600. The church of Portland, 

 wliich stands by the sea side upon the quarrie, (which lies not very deep, sc. ten foot), is of Cane stone, 

 from Normandie. Malmesbury Abbey and the other Wiltshire religious houses are of Haselbury 

 stone. The old tradition is that St. Adelm, Abbot of Malmesbury, riding over the ground at 

 Haselbury, did throw do-wii his glove, and bad them dig there, and they should find great treasure, 

 meaning the quarre. 



AT Chilmarke is a very great quarrie of freestone, whereof the religious houses of the south part 

 of Wiltsliire and Dorset were built. [The walls, buttresses, and other substantial parts of Salisbury 

 Cathedral are constructed of the Cliilmarke stone. J. B.] 



At Teffont Ewyas is a quarrie of very good white freestone, not long since discovered. 



At Compton Basset is a quarrie of soft white stone betwixt chalke and freestone : it endures fire 

 admirably well, and would be good for reverbatory furnaces : it is much used for ovens and hearth- 

 stones : it is as white as chalke. At my Lord Stowell's house at Aubury is a chimney piece carved 

 of it in figures ; but it doth not endure the weather, and therefore it ought not to be exposed to sun 

 and raine. 



At Yatton Keynel, in Longdean, is a freestone quarrie, but it doth not endure the weather well. 



In Alderton-field is a freestone quarrie, discovered a little before the civill-warres broke forth. 



In Bower Chalke field, in the land that belongs to the farme of Broad Chalke, is a quarrie 

 of freestone of a dirty greenish colour, very soft, but endures the weather well. The church 

 and houses there are built with it, and the barne of the farme, w ch is of great antiquity. 



The common stone in Malmesbury hundred and thereabout is oftentimes blewish in the inside, and 

 full of very small cockles, as at Easton Piers. These stones are dampish and sweate, and doe emitt 

 a cold and unwholsome dampe, sc. the vitriolate petrified salt in it exerts itselfe. 



I know no where in this county that lime is made, unlesse it be made of Chalke stones : whereas 

 between Bath and Bristoll all the stone is lime-stone. If lime were at xs. or xxs. per lib. it would be 

 valued above all other drugges. 



