Tuesday 15 September 2015

All Saints Church - Pontefract


All Saints Church in Pontefract

The historic town of Pontefract occupies a fault bound outlier of Lower Magnesian Limestone that unconformably overlies a variety of Upper Carboniferous sandstone, which was once known as the Pontefract Rock but is now called the Newstead Rock by the British Geological Survey. At the north-eastern end of this prominent ridge, Pontefract Castle commands views over a low lying area, which comprises much softer, finer grained sediments upon which All Saints church is set.

The Geology of Pontefract

I first visited All Saint's church in 1999, to survey the stonework and help the archaeologist with the unravelling of its construction history - and to advise the architect on the most suitable stone to be used for an extensive programme of restoration to the tower. At this time, I noted a variety of sandstones and limestones that have been used in what I consider to be the most interesting church that I have visited to date.

Views of the tower at All Saints church

Laid to ruin during the exchange of cannon fire with the castle at the end of the English Civil War, and subsequently partially rebuilt, remodelled and restored, it provides an excellent opportunity to study the various building stones and their weathering characteristics - this very special place also records a pivotal point in England’s history.

All Saints church