An Exploration of Cawthorne Village

A grotesque on Swift Cottages

Arriving in Cawthorne on the No. 92 bus from Doncaster at Tivy Dale Road/The Park, South Lodge, c.1820, provides an example of what I assume to be Parkgate Rock and, it is possible that this stone was used to build Cannon Hall. 

South Lodge

Described by the British Geological Survey as being quite distinctive for its very strong cross-bedding, Parkgate Rock was formed in a river channel and is massive in nature, enabling it to be cut into large blocks. This contrasts with the flaggy sandstone used for the stone slates. 

Walling alongside Tanyard Beck

Walking towards the centre of the old village, dry stone walls and general walling for the historic vernacular architecture use similar thin bedded sandstone and it is probable that this was not quarried from the Parkgate Rock. 

Vernacular architecture on Tivy Dale

After more than 3 years of investigating mediaeval churches and their surrounding villages, in and around South Yorkshire, I have encountered very many examples of sandstone from the Millstone Grit and Coal Measures and, due to their close similarities in colour and texture, it is generally extremely difficult to assign a building stone to a particular rock formation. 

Vernacular architecture on Taylor Hill

The numerous quarries that were often opened to serve local needs are now mostly filled in and redeveloped or, if still existing, completely overgrown or on private land and therefore inaccessible. Without known examples of a particular sandstone for reference - where it is possible to examine its physical characteristics in a large expanse of rock face – or documentary evidence, this is usually just an educated guess. 

Sculpted panels by Samuel Swift

Continuing further up Taylor Hill, the pattern of stonework in various simple houses is as previously seen and the most interesting features are the Grade II Listed garden wall, containing C19 sculpted panels by Samuel Swift and Swift Cottages on the opposite side of the road, which are surprisingly ornate. 

Sculpture at Swift Cottages

The precisely squared and coursed masonry is far superior to that used for cottages of a similar age elsewhere in the village, with coarser gritty sandstone, of uniform colour and texture, used for the oriel windows, dressings and various sculptures. 

A memorial to Queen Victoria

At the top of the hill, the Victoria Jubilee Museum has some interesting monuments, a large carved sandstone boulder commemorating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and her subsequent death, and a Portland limestone war memorial that was made by Jack Swift, who had followed in the family stone masonry tradition. 

Cawthorne war memorial

Outside the museum, two large rocks on the entrance steps caught my eye, which a close examination reveals to be basalt. One of the museum volunteers, who was preparing for a private function before the official opening the next day, informed me that he thought it may have been from Iceland; however, the smooth polished surfaces are consistent with them being glacial erratics, as mentioned in the British Geological Survey memoir. 

Glacial erratics at the Victoria Jubilee Museum

Unexpectedly, I was invited into the function and was told that All Saints church, which was next on my agenda, was also not open until the following week. Resigning myself to the fact that I would have to come back to Cawthorne at another time – to look at the museum’s contents and the interior of the church – I continued to enjoy their hospitality. 

The fountain on Church Street

Giving myself enough time to look at the ornate fountain on Church Street, in the form of a Viking cross, before having a quick look at the exterior of All Saints church and the various monuments in the churchyard and then having a quick pint of bitter at the Spencer Arms, while waiting to catch my bus home.

A pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord bitter