Granite is found in Aberdeenshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Argyleshire, and the Islands of Mull and Arran. Also in Cornwall, Devonshire, Leicestershire, Cumberland, and the islands of Guernsey and Jersey. The Irish granites occur chiefly in the counties of Wicklow, Wexford, Donegal, and Down.

The Scotch Granites are most esteemed for beauty and for durable qualities, especially those from the two great districts of Aberdeen and Peterhead - the stone from the former is generally grey, and that from the latter red.

The other best known varieties of Scotch granites are those from Rubislaw, Stirling Hill, Dalbeattie, Ross of Mull, Kemnay, Kinsteary, etc.

The Cornish and Devonshire granites, sometimes called moorstones, have not so high a character. They contain a large proportion of felspar, which in some cases weathers very badly. The potash felspar of these granites, when decomposed, turns into Kaolin or porcelain clay.

The Leicestershire Granites are, generally speaking, syenites - very hard and tough, difficult to dress, and therefore not much used for building purposes. They are well adapted for paving sets, and make capital road metal.

Jersey and Guernsey Granite is also syenitic. It is a good weathering stone, very hard, durable, used for paving purposes, but rather apt to become slippery.

The Irish Granites are very numerous. Grey varieties are obtained from Wicklow and Dublin. Those of a reddish tint from Galway. A good bluish grey granite comes from Castle Welland, County Down; Counties Donegal and Mayo produce good red granites. Several colours and varieties come from Carlow. Newry supplies a greenish syenite.1

1 Wilkinson's Practical Geology of Ireland.

The following Tables give a list of some of the principal Granite Quarries in Great Britain and Ireland. The quarries are very numerous, but it is hardly worth while to mention many of them in the following Tables: -

List Of Some Of The Principal Granite Quarries In Great Britain And Ireland

NAME OF QUARRY.

NEAREST POST TOWN.

COUNTY.

COLOUR OF STONE.

Weioht

PER Foot

Cube in Lbs.

REMARKS.

English Granites.

Anglesea . .

Holyhead .

N. Wales .

White . . .

...

This stone, sometimes called a granite, is really a quartz rock. Used for Holyhead Breakwater. Too hard to work for ordinary buildings.

Blackenstoke, Dartmoor .

Moreton Hamp-sted

Devonshire .

Grey . .

...

Paving in Exeter and buildings. A porphyritic granite, with large brown crystals.

Boss . . .

St Brenard .

Cornwall . .

..

...

Used in London Bridge, British Museum, etc.

Burdon Hill .

Leicester . .

Leicestershire .

Greenish

...

Road metal, much used in Midlands.

BURTLEY . .

Charlestown .

Cornwall . .

...

... .

London Bridge; British Museum; the Vatican, Rome, etc.

Carnsew . .

Penryn . .

Do. . .

Bluish grey . .

Very fine grain. Putney Bridge.

Charnwood .

Loughborough .

Leicestershire .

Dark green, containing very little pink

186.8

Syenite.

Cheesewrino .

Looe Liskeard .

Cornwall . .

Grey . .

183.4

Used at Westminster Bridge; Rochester Bridge, Birkenhead; Southampton and other Docks; Great Basses Lighthouse, Ceylon; Plymouth Forts; Devonport Docks; new Eddy-stone Lighthouse.

Clee Hill . .

....

Shropshire .

...

....

Used for road metal.

Clift Hill . .

Markfield. .

Leicestershire .

Dark green, containing some pink

176.0

Syenite.

Cobo . . .

...

Guernsey . .

Reddish brown and grey

...

A syenitic granite.

COLCERROW .

Par . . .

Cornwall . .

...

...

Used at Plymouth Breakwater and Lighthouse; Keyham; Portsmouth; Chatham; Pembroke Docks; Exeter Market, etc.

Delank . .

Bodmin . .

Do. . .

Grey . . .

...

Very large stones, fine and close grained. Used in works at Mil-ford, Portland, Devonport; lighthouse on the Smalls; Black-friars Bridge; Wax Chandlers' Hall, City.

Foogintor, Dartmoor

Tavistock .

Devonshire .

Do. ...

162.4

Freemator .

Do. . .

Do. . .

Grooby . .

Bardon . .

Leicestershire .

Pink and green .

173.4

Syenite. For paving sets and road metal.

Gunnislake .

Gunnislake .

Cornwall . .

White and grey

...

Milford and Middlesborough Docks; Devonport Town Hall.

Haytor, or High Tor

Bovey Tracey .

Devonshire .

Grey . .

...

London Docks, etc. These quarries have been recently reopened.

Heale, Dartmoor

Plymouth

Do. . .

Do. ...

....

Nelson Column; Royal Exchange; H.M. Dockyards; Crystal Palace.

HENSBOROUGH .

Lostwithiel .

Cornwall.

....

..

Herm . .

Herm . .

Near Guernsey.

Grey . . .

187

Syenite. Contains felspar, quartz, hornblende, and a little mica; fine grained; weathers well; hard. Used chiefly for paving; apt to become slippery.

Lamorna and Penzance

Penzance . .

Cornwall . .

Do. ...

...

Used at Devonport, Keyham, and other dockyards; Portland; Down; Alderney; Fortifications, St. Ives.

La Moye . .

....

Jersey . .

Pink and Grey .

...

Syenite. Used chiefly for paving sets and road metal.

La Perruque .

....

Do. . .

...

...

Syenite.

Lee Moor . .

Plympton .

Devonshire .

Grey. . .

Lunday Island .

Bicleford . .

Do . .

Do. ...

162.7

Markfield .

Leicester . .

Leicestershire .

Dark green . .

...

A syenite used for paving and road metal.

Merrivale .

Princetown .

Devon . .

Pale blue . .

170

Good stone.

Mill Hill .

Madun . .

Cornwall . .

...

...

"Stone of excellent quality, and can be obtained of very large size."1

Mount Mado .

.....

Jersey . .

....

...

Syenite. Fine grained.

MOUNTSORREL .

Loughborough .

Leicestershire .

Pinkish brown .

164.1

Syenite. Used chiefly for paving and road metal.

Penryn . .

Penryn . .

Do. . .

Grey . . .

182.7

Used at Devonport, Keyham, Portsmouth, Chatham, Deptford Dockyards; Portland, Down, and Alderney breakwaters; works at Hull, Liverpool, Birkenhead, etc.

Pew Tor . .

Tavistock .

Devonshire .

Reddish brown and grey

167

Known as "Tamar" granite. Large blocks in Plymouth Breakwater; Duke of Bedford's buildings, Tavistock.

Port John . .

...

Jersey .

Pink.

Portmadoc .

Portmadock .

Merionethshire

...

...

Syenite. Used for road metal.

Retire . .

Par . . .

Cornwall . .

Red and grey . .

...

Porphyry. Place House, Surrey. For house ceilings, linings, etc.

ROUTGHTOR .

Wadebridge .

Do. . .

...

...

Plymouth Breakwater; paving in London.

Shap Fell, Was-dale Head

Shap, in Penrith

Westmoreland .

Pink or reddish brown

168.5

A porphyritic granite, containing large flesh-coloured crystals of felspar (orthoclase); takes a fine polish; converted by machinery. Mausoleum, Lowther Castle; columns in Hull Museum; columns, St. Pancras Statioc; posts, western area, St. Paul's.

Sheffield . .

Penzance . .

Cornwall . .

Greenish grey .

...

New Dock, Malta.

St. Austell .

St. Austell .

Do. . .

...

...

Much porcelain clay obtained from the decomposing granite here.

St. Blazy . .

Par . . .

Do. . .

Grey.

Trethwy . .

Do. . . .

Do. . .

....

...

Porphyritic. Used for Duke of Wellington Sarcophagus, St. Paul's, etc.

Trowlesworthy

...

Devon . .

Red . . .

...

The only red granite in West of England.

Vale . .

...

Guernsey . .

Grey; blue . .

187

Syenite.

1 Guide to Museum of Practical Geology.

TABLE OF GRANITES - Continued.

NAME OF QUARRY.

NEAREST POST TOWN.

COUNTY.

COLOUR OF STONE.

Weight

Per Foot

Cube in Lbs.

REMARKS.

Scotch Granites.

Arran . . .

Arran . .

Bute . .

Grey . . .

...

Two varieties, coarse grained and fine grained; contain a large proportion of quartz.

BlRSMON . .

Aboyne . .

Aberdeenshire .

Grey and pink. .

...

Very like Shap granite in appearance.

Blackhill . .

Stirling . .

Stirlingshire .

Red ...

166.6

Takes a beautiful polish; turned by machinery into columns, etc.

BODHAM . .

Peterhead . .

Aberdeenshire .

Grey . . .

....

Very large stones; Prince Consort's Memorial Fountain, Trafalgar Square.

Cairngall. .

Do. . .

Do. .

Do. ...

...

Coarse grained; good to polish.

CORRENNIR . .

...

Do. . .

Salmon, grey, red .

...

Chiefly quartz and felspar with specks of mica or hornblende; Glasgow Municipal Buildings; Tay Bridge.

Cove . . .

Cove . .

Kincardineshire

Dark grey . .

...

Used chiefly for kerbs and sets.

Clinterty . .

Aberdeen. .

Aberdeenshire .

Reddish grey.

Craignair, Dalbeattie

Dalbeattie .

Kirkcudbrightshire

Grey . . .

213

Liverpool; Birkenhead; Newport; Swansea Docks; Liverpool Borough Bank; Buildings in Manchester.

Creetown, Globe

Newton-Stewart

Do. .

Do. ...

....

Liverpool Docks.

Dalmore . .

...

Sutherlandshire.

Dancing Cairn . .

Aberdeen. .

Aberdeenshire .

Usually grey; sometimes red

...

Buildings in Aberdeen. Used in London for kerbs, paving, etc. Composed of quartz, orthoclase, oligoclase, and mica.

Dyce . . .

Do. . .

Do. . .

Grey.

FlNGASK. .

Beauly . .

Inverness-shire.

...

...

Loch Beauly Bridge.

High Rock . .

Breadalbane .

Perthshire

....

166.0

Hill o' Fare .

Banchory . .

Kincardineshire

Dark red . .

...

Fine grain. Used chiefly for monumental work.

Inverary . .

Inverary . .

Argyllshire .

Do. .

Kemnay . .

Kintore . .

Aberdeenshire .

Grey . .

...

Docks, Hull; Newcastle; Leith; Forth Bridge, etc.

KlNSTEARY . .

....

Inverness-shire

Red . .

...

Pillars, British Museum; much used in London.

LONGHAVEN .

Ellon . .

Aberdeenshire .

Do.

Oban . . .

Oban . .

Argyleshire .

Grey.

Persley . .

Buxburn . .

Aberdeenshire .

Do. .

Peterhead. .

Peterhead .

Do. . .

Red . .

165.9

Pillars, Carlton Club; good colour; coarse grained. Composed of red orthoclase, albite, black mica, quartz. Good to polish.

Ross of Mull . .

Bunessan .

Argyleshire .

Pink, red, and grey

...

Liverpool Docks; Westminster Br dge; Northern Lighthouses; Albert Memorial.

Rubislaw . .

Aberdeen . .

Aberdeenshire .

Grey . .

...

Buildings in Aberdeen. Used in London for kerbs, paving, monumental work, etc.; Bell Rock Lighthouse.

SCLATTlE . .

Do. .

Do. . .

Do. . .

Do

Red . .

Red . .

165.9

Duke of York Column; columns in st George's Hall, Liver.

Strontian .

.....

Argyleshire .

Grey. .

'

TlLLYFOURIE .

Alford. . .

Aberdeenshire .

Bluish grey . .

....

Much used in London for paving and sets.

Torres Forest .

Kinton . .

Do.

Grey . . .

...

Very like the granite from Kemnay.

Tyuebagger .

Aberdeen . .

Do.

Do. ...

...

Buildings in Aberdeen. Used in London for kerbs, paving, etc. Composed of quartz, orthoclase, oligoclase, and mica.

Irish Granites.

Bagnalstown .

Carlow . .

Carlow . .

Dark bluish grey .

...

Hard to work; a very serviceable building stone.

Bally Knocken and Golden Grove

Blessington .

Wicklow . .

Greyish white .

169.1

Works freely; fit for ornamental work. Much used in Dublin; Kingstown Station.

Belleek . .

Belleek .

Fermanagh .

Reddish . . .

....

Used for making porcelain.

Blessington .

...

Wicklow . .

Bluish grey . .

...

Scarce.

Carnsore Point and Killiney Hill

Carnsore Point.

Wexford . .

Grey . . .

....

Large blocks; good quality. Kingstown Harbour; Thames Embankment; buildings in Dublin. Very scarce.

Castlewellan .

Castlewellan .

Down . .

....

...

Used for base and pedestal of Albert Memorial.

Crossdoney .

....

Cavan . .

Do. ...

...

Close grained; evenly crystalline.

Dalkey . .

Dalkey . .

Dublin . .

Do. . .

169.6

A good stone for building, road metal and paving sets; hard to work. St. Werburgh's and St. Paul's Churches.

Dungloe . .

Dungloe . .

Donegal . .

Reddish . . .

...

Dungloe Church.

Furlough . .

Galway . .

Galway . .

Do. . .

...

A porphyritie granite containing large crystals of pink orthoclase.

Garvary Wood .

....

Donegal . .

Pink and black.

Glencore . .

Enniskerry .

Wicklow . .

....

...

National Bank of Ireland and other public buildings in Dublin.

Glencullen and Kilgobbin

Do. .

Wicklow . .

Brownish grey .

...

A good serviceable stone.

Kingstown .

Dublin . .

Dublin . .

Grey . .

171

Kingstown Railway Station. Hard stone to work.

Lough . .

Carlow . .

Carlow . .

Cream colour, white, yellow

...

Fine compact texture; curiously spotted. New Church, Car-low.

Mullaghglass .

Newry . .

Down . .

Grey . .

...

Difficult to work. Used in neighbourhood.

Newry . .

Do. . .

Do. . .

Do. ...

170

A hard good stone forgeneral building purposes; very durable; one of the best granites in Ireland. Much used in North of Ireland.

OUGHTERARD .

Galway . .

Galway . .

Bluish.

Rathfriland .

Banbridge .

Down . .

Grey . .

...

Hard to work.

Slieve Gullion .

Newry . .

Armagh . .

Grey . .

....

Free working and durable. Used for millstones.