Church of the Holy Rood, Wool,NGR: SY84750 86463, 384750 86463, 50.6776 -2.2171(Lead author: JT)

The earliest foundation of the church dates to the 13th century, with additions in the 14th and 15th centuries, and an extensive renovation in 1865. The first impression is that the body of the church is built of Heathstone, with scattered blocks of Purbeck Limestone, mostly the Broken Shell Limestone, the Burr. The quoins and dressings are of a shelly limestone, identified by Pitfield as Box Ground Bath Stone, an oolitic limestone coloured pale cream or pale grey, with finely broken shell material weathering proud of the limestone in horizontal dashed lines.

2. The chancel rebuild shows the Heathstone and Purbeck stones clearly in the walls, with a Box Ground Bath Stone window on the east.

The windows of the chancel are of Box Ground, Bath Stone, though one has a cill of Burr. The windows of the south aisle – outside – are of Burr. The doorway here is also of Burr.

4. The eastern window in the south aisle is built of Purbeck Broken Shell Limestone (Burr). Photo: SA

The north aisle has two phases of construction. The centre two piers and arches – 13th century - are entirely Heathstone, in comparatively small blocks, both with a Heathstone moulded base. The north aisle was extended to the west in the 15th century, partly on the 13th century foundations of the north wall, using the Purbeck-Portland cliff stone. The eastern bay is part of the 1865 reconstruction, of Corsham Bath Stone with a band of Heathstone, fixed to half of an original Heathstone pillar. The un-weathered Corsham stone is an oolitic limestone of a honey colour, apparently featureless, except the lowest drum of the southern pillar of the chancel arch which has shadowy grey lines at the top, and a greyish colour at the bottom.

6. In the 15th century the north aisle was extended using Isle of Purbeck cliff stone.

1. From the churchyard on the south side of Holy Rood church it can be seen that the body of the church is mostly of local Heathstone from the London Clay. Renovations in the 19th century have included occasional blocks of Purbeck limestone in the walls. The 15th century tower was not rebuilt and is all Purbeck limestone, mostly the Broken Shell Limestone known as Burr.

3. A magnified photo of the Corsham Down Bath Stone used for the drum-shaped pillars in the south aisle. Photo: PJB

The 15th century tower is all of Purbeck Limestone, mostly the Burr, including the windows, except the bell chamber fenestration, which appears to be Bath Stone.
 
The north porch is a 19th century construction of Bath Stone, with outer and inner archways of Purbeck Burr and an outer capping of Ham Hill Stone. Capping is still uncertain.

5. A magnified photo of an exterior quoin of Box Ground Bath Stone.

7. The chancel arch was replaced using Corsham Down stone, but the 3 central octagonal columns are the original Burr.

The south aisle piers are of Corsham Bath Stone, with one band of heathstone, a complete circle of 52 cm diameter. The square pediments, which appear much older, have spur or leaf-shaped carvings on the corners, and are of Purbeck-Portland cliff stone.

The chancel arch, originally 14th century, is of Purbeck Burr, with an open arcade of three octagonal piers of Burr.

The window-cills on the south aisle are of Purbeck-Portland limestone.   

8. A south aisle pillar of Corsham Down Bath Stone with one drum of local Heathstone. Photo: PJB

9. The font was built as part of the 15th century extension of the north arcade, of Portland Freestone from the cliff quarries in the Isle of Purbeck.

Reference: Pitfield F.P. 1985: Purbeck Parish Churches. Sherborne: Dorset Publishing House.
Additional information: http://www.holyroodwool.org/Main/history.htm
Text and photos by JT unless otherwise stated.17.10.18