Pierre de Caen (Caen Stone) - Middle Jurassic - NW France (Lead Author WGT)
Columns of Caen Stone at Netley Abbey. Photo: PJB
The best-known finest quality stone used for ornamental work in English Cathedrals and Churches is the Pierre de Caen which is the upper part of the Calcaire de Caen (Caen Limestone Formation). It is a cream-coloured fossiliferous Middle Jurassic limestone (contemporaneous with the Bath Stone of England), quarried above and below ground in the area around Caen in Normandy, NW France. From the 11th century, southern England was the main importer of Caen Stone and again in the 19th century.
Although the same age as the oolitic Bath Stone, the Pierre de Caen is not oolitic - it is a bioclastic, crinoidal, pelletal, grainstone-packstone. The Crinoid animal (Sea Lily) feeds by filtering sea water and produces lime mud faecal pellets. Such pellets (<0.1mm) are common in many Jurassic & Early Cretaceous limestones and comprise most of the fabric of Caen stone. The ratio of faecal pellets to bioclastic fragments affects the quality of Caen Stone. The more bioclastic content, the harder and paler the stone. The bioclastic grains weather proud and can be confused with ooids. The softer form of Caen Stone is more prone to weathering and has a yellowish colour.
Caen Stone is known in these cathedrals: St Paul’s London, Canterbury, Chichester, Rochester, Durham, Norwich. Also: Oxford Castle, Tower of London, Hatfield House, Eton College & Netley Abbey.
In Dorset, the church, stables and schoolroom in Little Bredy were built by Benjamin Ferrey in 1850 using Caen Stone. Monkton Wyld Church just north of Lyme Regis has Caen Stone dressings (see Churches section) and below.
WGT/JT Feb 2017 Update WGT Nov 2018
Although the same age as the oolitic Bath Stone, the Pierre de Caen is not oolitic - it is a bioclastic, crinoidal, pelletal, grainstone-packstone. The Crinoid animal (Sea Lily) feeds by filtering sea water and produces lime mud faecal pellets. Such pellets (<0.1mm) are common in many Jurassic & Early Cretaceous limestones and comprise most of the fabric of Caen stone. The ratio of faecal pellets to bioclastic fragments affects the quality of Caen Stone. The more bioclastic content, the harder and paler the stone. The bioclastic grains weather proud and can be confused with ooids. The softer form of Caen Stone is more prone to weathering and has a yellowish colour.
Caen Stone is known in these cathedrals: St Paul’s London, Canterbury, Chichester, Rochester, Durham, Norwich. Also: Oxford Castle, Tower of London, Hatfield House, Eton College & Netley Abbey.
In Dorset, the church, stables and schoolroom in Little Bredy were built by Benjamin Ferrey in 1850 using Caen Stone. Monkton Wyld Church just north of Lyme Regis has Caen Stone dressings (see Churches section) and below.
WGT/JT Feb 2017 Update WGT Nov 2018
Update 28th Feb 2017 – WGT
Pierre de Caen Stone - Netley loose. PPL image 4.1mm x 2.8mm.
|
|
Caen Stone is seen in the windows and quoins of Monkton Wyld Church. Externally, the south windows have a lime-wash coating which gives a very white appearance to the stone and carvings but, in places, this cover has worn off to reveal the true cream-colour of this Caen Stone.
|
Some weathered quoins reveal bioturbation in this saccharoidal bioclastic limestone.
|
Bioclastic micritic limestone with a saccharoidal (sugar-like) texture
|
|
|
In places the grey algal/fungal coating has flaked off revealing the crumbly creamy Caen Stone.
Monkton Wyld Photos & Text WGT 28/2/17 |
