Kilkenny marble
Kilkenny marbleorKilkenny black marbleis a fine-grained very dark greycarboniferous limestonefound aroundCounty Kilkennyin Ireland in the "ButlersgroveFormation",aLower Carboniferouslimestone that containsfossilsofbrachiopods,gastropods,crinoidsandcorals.[1]The first and main source was the "Black Quarry" in the townlands of Archersgrove and Gallowshill just south ofKilkennycity,[2]which was used from the 17th to the 19th century. Kilkenny is nicknamed "the Marble City"; thefootpathsof the city streets were paved with Kilkenny marbleflagstones,which were highly polished with wear and glistened when wet.
Quarrying
[edit]Large rough-hewn blocks were transported from the Black Quarry on horse-drawn drays the short distance to theRiver Nore,then onto small river floats or barges[2]and brought about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) down-river toMilmountwhere it was worked. A weir on the river provided water to drivereciprocatingcross-cutsaws to cut the larger blocks into the finished shapes required for the market. The saws were actually steel bands, about four meters long. Sand was used as an abrasive cutting agent. Water levels were kept low by two steel 30-centimetre-diameter (12 in)reciprocating pumps,probably driven by steam. Alime kilnwas located close by which produced lime from the stone chips and off-cuts. Coal, probably fromCastlecomer,12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of Kilkenny, layered with stone and set to smoulder, produced white chunks of lime, which, when powdered was used as an agricultural fertilizer. The quarry was owned by the Colles family, a famous member being physicianAbraham Colles.From the top of the Black Quarry,Cromwell's forcesin 1650 are said[by whom?]to have positioned cannon and fired on the city.[citation needed]
Produce from other quarries of Butlersgrove Formation stone continue to be marketed as "Kilkenny black marble" whenpolished,including Bannagagole Quarry nearOldleighlin,County Carlow.[3]
Uses
[edit]As well as in several local buildings,[4]includingGreen's Bridge,Kilkenny marble was used inCobh CathedralandBowen's Court[5]in County Cork;Lissadell House,County Sligo;[6]the headstone ofDaniel O'ConnellinGlasnevin Cemetery,Dublin; the altar ofSt Patrick's Church, Belfast;and the plinth of the 2015 tomb ofRichard III of EnglandinLeicester Cathedral.[7]In 1878, BishopThomas Francis Hendricken,a native of Kilkenny, and 1st Bishop ofProvidence, Rhode IslandUSA, laid a large block of Kilkenny marble as the cornerstone of his new cathedral.Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (Providence, Rhode Island)
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^Clarke, Aaron; Parkes, Matthew; Gatley, Sarah (2007)."The Geological Heritage of Kilkenny"(PDF).Geological Survey Ireland. p. 24.Retrieved30 November2019.
- ^abClarke, Aaron; Parkes, Matthew; Gatley, Sarah (2007)."Archersgrove Quarry"(PDF).The Geological Heritage of Kilkenny.Geological Survey Ireland.Retrieved30 November2019.
- ^Parkes, Matthew; McAteer, Claire (2004)."The Geological Heritage of Carlow"(PDF).Geological Survey Ireland. pp. 15, 36.Retrieved30 November2019.
- ^Bence-Jones 1978 pp.41 (Bessborough), 45 (Bonnetstown House), 76 (Castletown), 183 (Ledwithstown), 206 (Millmount, Kilkenny)
- ^Bence-Jones 1978 p.46
- ^Bence-Jones 1978 p.188
- ^Kennedy, Maev (16 June 2014)."Richard III's bones will be reburied in a coffin made by his descendant".The Guardian.Retrieved30 November2019.
Sources
[edit]- Bence-Jones, Mark (1978).Burkes̕ guide to country houses.Vol. I: Ireland. London.ISBN9780850110265.Retrieved2 December2019– via Internet Archive.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Naary, Patrick (6 April 2018)."Kilkenny Marble Works".Kilkenny Archaeological Society.Retrieved2 December2019.
- Pavía, Sara; Jason Bolton (2000).Stone, Brick and Mortar: Historical Use, Decay and Conservation of Building Materials in Ireland.Bray, Co. Wicklow: Wordwell.ISBN1-869857-32-1.
- "Colles, William [1702–1770]".Dictionary of Irish Architects.Irish Architectural Archive.Retrieved2 December2019.
Further reading
[edit]- Hand, Tony (2011).The Kilkenny Marble Works: a family business enterprise(Ph.D.). Department of History of Art and Architecture, Trinity College Dublin.hdl:2262/78002.Retrieved2 December2019.