Leeds Central Library - Limestone

A lion carved in Hopton Wood limestone

When entering Leeds Central Library from Calverley Street, the various marbles and granites used for the columns and pilasters provide a good example of the use of British decorative stones but, once inside the stairwell, the floral details to the stonework surrounding the entrance to the lending library are just stunning.

An ornately carved Caen stone surround to the lending library entrance 

Over the years I have visited many historic buildings and I had only seen detailed carving like this on the 12th century West Front of Rochester Cathedral, where many of the original figures are still preserved. The provenance of this soft pale cream limestone was not obvious and I was surprised to discover that the same stone has been used in both buildings – Caen stone from Normandy.

A detail of the entrance to the lending library

Apart from the cathedral and castle in Rochester, I had only closely looked at other examples of this famous stone at the Tower of London, despite having visited other places where it has been used. It is most famous for being brought to England after the Norman Conquest, to build cathedrals and other buildings of great importance; however, this was the first time that I had seen its use in any post-mediaeval building.

A dog and lion

Having been very impressed by everything that I had seen since entering the library, I then proceeded to have a good look at the balustrades to the staircases, whose magnificent carved dogs and lions were the original reason for deciding to visit in the first place.

A general view of a staircase and animal sculptures

These are made from another famous English building stone - Hopton Wood limestone - that developed a great reputation for interior decorative work, particularly in the 18th and 19th centuries and which was selected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, after World War I, to produce over 120,000 headstones and again for a similar number after World War II.

A detail of the staircase with various materials

Although the original quarries have long since closed, various sources of very similar limestone from the Bee Low Limestone Formation have appeared intermittently over the years in the region where Hopton Wood stone was first quarried but, nowadays, it is in very limited supply.

A carved dog