Caunton
St Andrew

Stonework

Exterior

The exterior of the church is chiefly large ashlar blocks of dressed skerry sandstone. The stone may have come from local quarries such as Tuxford, Maplebeck, Laxton or Kneesall. It is found in the lower stages of the tower, the walls and the footings.

The following stones are also found:

Magnesian limestone, probably from Mansfield quarries, is found, for example, in the upper stages of the tower and in the window surrounds. Similar stone, slightly lighter in colour, also comes from quarries at Cadeby, near Doncaster.

Trent Valley Mudstone, possibly from cliffs along the Trent between Elston and East Stoke.

Lincolnshire limestone, from Ancaster, has been used for patching as skerry is no longer available (quarries ceased production about 100 years ago) and is found around the church.

Tufa stone
Tufa is found in the south wall of the chancel. It could have come from Mansfield but it is also found locally along The Beck, which may explain its presence in this church, but not in other local churches.

Lias possibly from Collingham is found in small amounts in the south wall.

All roofs are made of Cumberland slate.

Interior

Most of the internal stonework is Magnesian limestone, including the south arch and window sills. There is also unusually internal use of tufa around the arches. The tower opening and all the carved work are of Mansfield limestone. The dressing stones of the chancel are of oolitic limestone.

Particular items are constructed as follows:

  Pulpit:   Lincolnshire limestone, softer than Ancaster limestone.
  Tombstones in
south aisle:		   Carboniferous sandstone, possibly from Elland, near Halifax. Slabs of this kind unlikely to have come from Derbyshire quarries
  Font:   Sandstone, millstone grit, very hard to work hence no ornamentation. It is possibly thirteenth century, from original church. Pedestal of magnesian limestone; there is some evidence of painting.

Associated buildings

The War Memorial alongside main church gate is made from skerry blocks taken from the chancel of Caunton Old Church. The stones are likely to have been cut in the 13th Century. The base is also made of skerry blocks.

Blocks of skerry can also be seen in the lower courses of the walls of The Grange.