98 BEISTOL BTJILDING STONES. 



to the dtibic foot. Less absorbent varieties take np scarcely 

 one-tbird of tliis amount. The percentage a,bsoi'ption by 

 volnm-e is from 1'86 to 7. 



The extreme hardness of the rock renders it difficult to 

 woi'k, and therefore expensive in construction ; nor can 

 blocks of any size be obtained. It is liowever an oxceed- 

 in^y durable stone, and its rich rod colour, and somewhat 

 rough facing, is not unpleasing to the eye. Queen Eliza- 

 beth's Hospital, the Grammar School, and the Deaf and 

 Dumb Institute are constructed of this stone, as are also 

 the lodges of the Ashton Park ]<]Ktato. for the lattei- the 

 rock was obtained from Long Ashton ; for the Grammar- 

 School, from Brandon Hill. The stone was, Mr. Ijrock 

 informs me, formerly used for pitcher paving in the streets. 

 T'he Brandon Hill quarries arc no longer worked. Boundary 

 walls formed of this stone are far superior to those in which 

 Mountain Limestone is used. 



Penn.ant Sandstone would seem to bo the ravourite build- 

 ing stone of modern Clifton, as the Bath stone and Dundi-y 

 stone were of older Bristol and Clifton. It is obtained 

 from extensive quarries at Hanham, Fishponds, and Staple- 

 ton, there being also quai-ries at WintcAonrno, Nailsca, 

 ;iiid Clo'vcdon. 



It is a coarser grained rock than the JVIillstoiie grit used 

 in construction, and a denser stone, though much less hard 

 iind durable. The colour is greenish gray, bluish gray, or 

 i-ed, according to locality and conditions of occurrence. 

 The specific gravity is 2'G7. The cubic foot of dry rock 

 weighs about 163| pounds. Subjected to crushing stress 

 in the University College testing machine, it showed no 

 sign of yielding till it suddenly broke down with a load 

 of from 20 to 2f> tons on, the two iiu'.h cube. In this respect 

 I'ennant compares favourably with the strongest rocks. 



