SNN115160 - The Building Stones of England: Northamptonshire

This guide describes Northamptonshire's local building stones in their geological context. It includes examples of buildings and structures where the stones have been used. With the exception of the superficial cover of Quaternary deposits, all the rocks that occur at the surface in Northamptonshire are marine sediments of Jurassic age. They consist of a variety of sandstones, ironstones, limestones, clays and mudstones. Although rocks suitable for building are limited to a part of this succession, there is a considerable diversity of building stones present and many local varieties, especially among the Middle Jurassic pale or yellow-coloured limestones and sandstones belonging to the Northampton Sand Formation and the Lincolnshire Limestone Formation. These provide sources of rubblestone, freestone that is suitable for ashlar and mouldings, roofing slates and paving.