 Wysall
Holy Trinity
Stonework
The principal stones used for most of the original walling are blocks of grey
and yellow-grey, often laminated or layered, lias limestone (sometimes called
Blue Lias Limestone) of Lower Jurassic age. These limestones were locally
quarried and are frequently seen in older buildings in the village as well
as in the church. They can weather quite badly but seem to be in good condition
at Wysall.
There has been some later replacement and patching with brown, iron stained
boulder of hard and soft sandstone probably dug from local superficial sediments
(fluvio-glacial drift) that masks much of the land surface around and about.
It appears that at some point either the lias limestone became unavailable
or was perhaps too expensive, and a few cartloads of these sandstone boulders
were used instead.
The moulded stones used for the original quoins, window mouldings (as in the
tower) and around the older doorways are all fine to medium grained pale brown,
Triassic sandstones. Sometimes these sandstones are quite pebbly (notably on
the quoins of the tower). The spire and roof parapets are all of the same Triassic
sandstone which was probably quarried along the Trent cliffs in the Kegworth /
Castle Donnington area where they outcrop.
Some more recent mouldings, eg on the porch entrance, are of pale
yellow Lincolnshire limestone (Middle Jurassic) showing typical ‘streaky
bacon’ texture.
Lincolnshire limestone blocks also occur sporadically as repairs to older
doorway and window mouldings.
The very large, green roofing slates are from Cumbria / Westmoreland
Slate and are not the local Swithland slates.
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