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History of Clipsham Stone (Detailed)
Clipsham stone, which takes its name from the village of Clipsham in Rutland has been known since Roman times, when it was used to build local villas, near Ermine Street, on the route from London to Lincoln. Traces of Roman workings have been found in “Old Quarry”.
The earliest recorded use of Clipsham Stone was Windsor Castle from 1363 to 1368, from which extraction is recorded as “Old Pits”, the medieval quarry on the Lincolnshire/Rutland county boundary.
Clipsham stone is the hardest of the Lincolnshire limestones. Nevertheless, it had a good reputation and was used for the most prestigious work e.g. at Kings College Cambridge in the 16th century, along with Weldon and magnesium limestone.
The architect Sir Thomas Jackson introduced Clipsham stone to Oxford in the 1870’s when he used it to build the Examination Schools. Indeed it was reported in 1948 that ‘the stone used in 1876 for the Oxford Examination Schools is still as perfect as when if left the mason’s yard.’ Jackson went on to use Clipsham for the dressings of the New Quadrangle at Brasenose College. At Lincoln College the Grove Buildings and a wing south east of the Rector’s Lodge were both given Clipsham dressings.
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