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| All Saints Church in Pontefract |
The
historic town of Pontefract occupies a fault bound outlier of Lower Magnesian Limestone
that unconformably overlies a variety of Upper Carboniferous sandstone, which was once known as the Pontefract Rock but is now called the Newstead Rock by the British Geological Survey. At the north-eastern end of this prominent ridge,
Pontefract Castle commands views over a low lying area, which comprises much softer, finer grained sediments upon which All Saints church is set.
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| The Geology of Pontefract |
I
first visited All Saint's church in 1999, to survey the stonework and help the
archaeologist with the unravelling of its construction history - and to advise
the architect on the most suitable stone to be used for an extensive programme
of restoration to the tower. At this time, I noted a variety of sandstones and
limestones that have been used in what I consider to be the most interesting church
that I have visited to date.
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| Views of the tower at All Saints church |
Laid
to ruin during the exchange of cannon fire with the castle at the end of the
English Civil War, and subsequently partially rebuilt, remodelled and restored,
it provides an excellent opportunity to study the various building stones and
their weathering characteristics - this very special place also records a pivotal point in England’s
history.
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| All Saints church |
