Ham Hill Limestone
<NOTE: CONTENTS ARE BETA VERSION – SUBJECT TO FACT CHECK AND VERIFICATION>
Geological Formation
The Ham Hill Limestone is a type of Jurassic limestone. It was deposited in a shallow marine environment during the Middle Jurassic period and is composed of fossil-rich, fine to medium-grained oolitic limestone with the presence of some shelly horizon. The Ham Hill Limestone has an irregular thickness, ranging from 5 to 30 meters, and it is frequently intercalated with clays and shales The Ham Hill Limestone has been described as a cream to yellow-brown limestone, which typically weathers to a light grayish color. The stone can be characterized by its typical oolitic texture, consisting of small spherical grains that are cemented together, giving the rock its distinctive appearance,
Geographical Limits and Alternative Names
The Ham Hill Limestone is predominantly found in the area around the village of Stoke-sub-Hamdon in Somerset, England, although it also occurs in adjacent areas. The stone was initially extracted from Ham Hill Quarry, which is now a nature reserve, and other nearby quarries.. The stone has also been referred to as the Stoke Ground Limestone, the Yeovil Stone, and the Hamstone.
Use as a Building Material
Ham Hill Limestone has been a popular building material in Somerset for many years, and it can be seen in many of the county’s villages and towns. For example, many buildings in the village of Stoke-sub-Hamdon are constructed from Ham Hill Limestone, including the local church, St. Mary’s, which features a tower made entirely from the stone. The stone has also been used in a variety of other buildings, including farmhouses, schools, and other public buildings throughout Somerset.
Stone Name | Locality for past extraction of this stone (from Building Stones of England English Heritage – excel file) |
Grey Ham Hill | Somerset Buildings (https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/advice/building-stones-england/bse-excel-somerset/); |
Ham Hill Stone | Somerset Buildings (https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/advice/building-stones-england/bse-excel-somerset/); |
Building using this stone (from Building Stones of England English Heritage – excel file) | |
Grey Ham Hill | Somerset Buildings (https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/advice/building-stones-england/bse-excel-somerset/); |
Ham Hill Stone | Somerset Buildings (https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/advice/building-stones-england/bse-excel-somerset/); |
Further information
https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=HHS
https://projects.bre.co.uk/condiv/stonelist/hamhillmiddle.html
A7
Reference | A7 |
NAME | Ham Hill |
TYPE | Limestone |
GEOLOGY | Jurassic. Lias |
COUNTY | Somerset |
COLOUR | Pale orange/brown with rusty patches. Some grey/brown |
TEXTURE | Cross bedded, coarse shelly fragments with sporadic voids |
BLOCK SIZE LXBXH (mm) | 600mm depth on bed |
SUITABILITY | Ashlar, dressings, walling, flooring and roofs |
USES (1) | 96-100 Picadilly, London |
USES (2) | Hampshire House, Hyde Park Place, London |
USES (3) | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
USES (4) | Palace Court, Bayswater Road, London |
Stone Names | Ham Hill Stone |