1 2 3 FIELDWORK & ANALYSIS (DATABASE) WILLIAM SMITH: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Diocese of St. Albans Church Architects & Surveyors Summer Workshop

SANDSTONE STRUCTURES IN THE GREENSAND COUNTRY

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EXISTING STUDIES & RESEARCH

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FIELDWORK & ANALYSIS (DATABASE)

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WILLIAM SMITH: GEOLOGICAL MAP OF BEDFORDSHIRE 1820

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QUARTZ (SILICA) PARTICLES THIN SECTION (TYPICAL SANDSTONE)

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DURABILITY … AND THE INFLUENCE OF BEDDING

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IRON RICH COMPOUNDS GLAUCONITE … ‘UPPER’ GREENSAND

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WORKABILITY … RANDOM & SQUARED RUBBLE

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COMBINATIONS OF MATERIALS

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QUARRY FACE: SANDY LODGE

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OLD QUARRY: BACK STREET, CLOPHILL

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SHALLOW WORKINGS (DELVE): RAMMAMERE HEATH

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MEDIEVAL USAGE + 19th CENTURY RESTORATION & REBUILDING

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MEDIEVAL USAGE: OLD ST. MARY’S, CLOPHILL

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MEDIEVAL USAGE: PACKHORSE BRIDGE, SUTTON

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POST MEDIEVAL USAGE: GIRTFORD BRIDGE (1780–82)

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POST MEDIEVAL USAGE: 19th CENTURY CHURCHES, SCHOOLS & HOUSES

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SUTTON PARK HOUSE (1858)

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NEW SPRING PUMPING STATION, ETC. (1906)

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CONTEXT: SANDSTONE BUILDINGS

43 SANDSTONE CHURCHES & CHAPELS:

33 x WHOLLY OR NEARLY ALL SANDSTONE 08 x WITH MAJOR SANDSTONE ELEMENTS 02 x CONTAINING SOME SANDSTONE

IN GREENSAND COUNTRY (1km BUFFER ZONE)

71 SANDSTONE CHURCHES IN TOTAL:

• FURTHEST NORTH = ROXTON (BEDS)
• FURTHEST SOUTH = TODDINGTON (BEDS)
• FURTHEST EAST = COCKAYNE HATLEY (BEDS)
• FURTHEST WEST = DRAYTON PARSLOW (BUCKS)

ALSO SOME 50 NOTABLE BUILDINGS IN + AROUND THE STUDY AREA

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CONTEXT: SANDSTONE CHURCHES

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MINOR SANDSTONE STRUCTURES

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MINOR SANDSTONE STRUCTURES: UNOCCUPIED FARM OUTBUILDINGS

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MINOR SANDSTONE STRUCTURES: BRIDGES AND PARTS OF BRIDGES

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MINOR SANDSTONE STRUCTURES: MISCELLANEOUS

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NUMBERS

505 MINOR SANDSTONE STRUCTURES:

10 x UNOCCUPIED FARM BUILDINGS 09 x BRIDGES OR PARTS OF BRIDGES (POSSIBLY 10) 05 X GARDEN STRUCTURES 04 x LYCHGATES 04 x MODERN VILLAGE GATEWAYS 03 x CHURCHYARD BUILDINGS 02 x SURROUNDS TO VILLAGE PUMPS 10 x MISCELLANEOUS STRUCTURES

91% MINOR SANDSTONE STRUCTURES = WALLS

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… MAINLY WALLS … OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY TYPES

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SQUARED RUBBLE = 17%

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RANDOM RUBBLE = 83%

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COPINGS, OPENINGS & OTHER MATERIALS

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DISTRIBUTION BY PARISH

505 MINOR SANDSTONE STRUCTURES:

GREAT BRICKHILL = 109 (21.6%) HEATH & REACH = 64 (12.7%) CLOPHILL = 49 (9.7%) SILSOE = 36 (7.1%) LITTLE BRICKHILL = (35) 6.9% POTTON = 33 (6.5%) MAULDEN = 30 (5.9%) BOW BRICKHILL = 22 (4.4%) ASPLEY GUISE = 21 (4.2%) NORTHILL = 13 (2.6%) SANDY = 11 (2.2%) 82 (16.2%) SPREAD AROUND 23 OTHER PARISHES (MAX. 10 IN ANY ONE) 80% = CONSERVATION AREAS 65% CENTRAL BEDS + 23.2% AYLESBURY VALE + 11.7% MILTON KEYNES

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DISTRIBUTION BY LOCATION

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DENSE & LOOSE CONCENTRATIONS (CLUSTERS)

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DENSE & LOOSE CLUSTERS; GROUPS & CHURCH GROUPINGS

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SCALE, LOCATION, USAGE, GROUPING & CONTEXT

KEY TO LOCAL DISTINCTIVENESS … … SANDSTONE STRUCTURES ‘BELONG’ IN SOME PLACES BUT NOT IN OTHERS

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VULNERABILITY

STRUCTURES IN GENERALLY GOOD CONDITION:

• IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WALLS FOR WHAT THEY ARE
• NEED TO BE ASSESSED DIFFERENTLY TO WALLS OF BUILDINGS
• THERE ARE HOWEVER ISSUES

CONSERVATION ISSUES:

• LOSS
• NEGLECT
• SALTS
• INAPPROPRIATE REPAIRS

HUMAN INTERVENTION (OR LACK OF) IS IN MOST CASES THE BIGGEST THREAT TO THE SURVIVAL OF SANDSTONE WALLS

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LOSS

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NEGLECT: WALLS

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NEGLECT: ABANDONED FARM BUILDINGS

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NEGLECT: UNMANAGED VEGETATION

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IMPERVIOUS PAVING + DE-ICING SALTS = DEEP EROSION

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ONE WAY OF MANAGING IMPACT OF DE-ICING SALTS

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SALTS & RETAINING WALLS: GROUNDWATER

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SALTS + GROUNDWATER = MASSIVE NEED FOR WORKS

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INAPPROPRIATE REPAIRS: CEMENT POINTING

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INAPPROPRIATE REPAIRS: FAILED MORTARS

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INAPPROPRIATE REPAIRS: INEFFECTIVE COPINGS

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INAPPROPRIATE REPAIRS: ILL MATCHED STONEWORK

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INAPPROPRIATE REPAIRS: POOR WORKMANSHIP

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… IT CAN BE DONE greensandcountry.com/caring-for-greensand-country/documents-and-downloads

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Diocese of St. Albans Church Architects & Surveyors Summer Workshop

SANDSTONE STRUCTURES IN THE GREENSAND COUNTRY

greensandcountry.com/caring-for-greensand-country/documents-and-downloads

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