Next claims our attention: It is of various kinds and qualities, some
about Birstwith is of a strong coarse grit, will bear an immense
pressure, is well adapted for bridges, locks, wiers, &c. but is not to be
had in blocks large enough for pier works. There is another kind of
stone at Dacre-Pasture, of a much finer grit than the last, paler in
colour, and well adapted for finer masonry, such as columns, pediments,
&c. Blocks of this kind may be had of large dimensions. Another kind of
stone is found at Wilsill, in quality similar to that at Birstwith, but
may be risen in much larger blocks. When the Ouse-bridge at York was
building, in 1818, the contractors for, or the inspectors of that work,
got some stone from this neighbourhood for the piers, and by a letter
from Mr. William Craven, one of the inspectors, there is no doubt of its
being fit for any kind of public works, as bridges, locks, &c. The
expense of land carriage from the quarry to Ripon was the sole cause why
a greater quantity was not made use of.
There is another kind of stone found a little way above Pateley-bridge,
well adapted for flags, window heads and soles, staircases, landings,
tomb-stones, and grind-stones; but owing to the beds being thin, it is
not well adapted for general building purposes.
At Fellbeck, near Smelthouse-mill, a slate quarry has lately been opened,
which produces a slate of a darker colour than that of Idle, is very
sound, lays well on, and will probably improve in fineness, if pursued to
a greater depth. A ton of it will cover about ten square yards.
Another Slate-Quarry, at Bouthwaite, near Pateley-Bridge, has recently
been discovered; the produce of which is much superior to that of Idle; a
ton of it will cover about 14 square yards.
All this stone and slate is immediately upon the adopted line, or can be
brought to it for 4.25d. per foot, which, with the expense of carriage to
Bolton-Percy will cost at that place as below:--
Pounds _s._ _d._
Rail-dues 30 0 3 1.5
miles, at
1.25d. per ton
per mile
Waggon-dues, 0 3 1.5
do. do.
0 6 3
Calculating 16 0 0 4.75
feet of this
stone to weigh
one ton, it
appears the
carriage of
each foot will
cost
And the 0 0 4.25
original cost
delivered on
the line
Cost of this 0 0 9
stone at
Bolton-Percy
per foot
Which if necessity requires, may experience a little reduction. At this
time the Bramley-fall stone delivered at Selby, costs 1s. per foot; and
at York during the building of Ouse-bridge it cost from 15d. to 16d.