Hillhouse Edge Sandstone

Technical Data Sheet
Hillhouse Edge Sandstone
Hill House Edge Quarry
George Grahams Sons & Co, Hillhouse Edge Quarries
Cartworth Moor, Holmfirth, Nr Huddesfield, W Yorkshire, HD7 1RL.
Contact : George Grahams Sons & Co
Tel. 01484 683239/684152 Fax. 01484 684153
Grid reference : SE 134 067
Compiled May 2000

This data sheet was compiled by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). It is based on data from current tests at BRE (2000). The data sheet was compiled in May 2000. The work was carried out by BRE as part of a Partners in Technology Programme funded by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and George Graham Sons & Co. and does not represent an endorsement of the stone by BRE.

General
The quarry was first worked in 1897 and there are good reserves of stone. There is 4.5 m of overburden above a 1.2 face yielding 0.1 – 0.125 m thick material with beds giving 0.6 – 0.9 m of material below this. The maximum block size is about 3 x 1.5 x 0.9 m, 0.9m on bed.

Petrography
Hillhouse edge is a hard york stone from the Millstone Grit of the Carboniferous age. It is fine to medium grained and fawn in colour with some brown speckling.

Expected Durability and Performance
It is important that the results from the individual tests are not viewed in isolation. They should be considered together and compared to the performance of the stone in existing buildings and other uses. Sandstone is traditionally acknowledged as generally being a very durable building and paving stone and has been used extensively in many towns and cities in the UK. Hillhouse Edge sandstone appears to be a durable stone that will have good resistance to acid rain or air pollution. In addition, the negligible weight loss in the sodium sulphate crystallisation test indicates good resistance to salt damage under normal conditions. The higher weight loss in the harsher saturated sodium sulphate crystallisation test indicates that some care is required in more aggressive conditions (for example in coastal locations or from de-icing salts). From the frost test the stone should also have good frost resistance. The compressive and flexural strength of the stone is mid-range for a sandstone and is comparable with many sandstones. The density and compressive strength indicate that the stone should be suitable for use in moderate to heavily trafficked areas.

Overall, Hillhouse Edge should be suitable for use in most aspects of construction including flooring, paving, load bearing masonry and cladding. Special consideration is required for areas where a long service life is needed in harsh salty environments.

Test Results – Hillhouse Edge

Safety
in Use
Slip Resistance (Note 1)

73

 Wet. Values > 40 are considered
safe. 
Abrasion Resistance
(Note 1)

Not tested

Values <23.0 are considered
suitable for use in heavily trafficked
areas
Strength
under load
1) Compression(Note 2)

124.7 MPa

Loaded perpendicular
to the bedding plane
ambient humidity
2) Bending (Note 1)

13.7 MPa

Loaded perpendicular to the
bedding plane
ambient humidity

12.6
MPa

Loaded parallel to the
bedding plane
ambient humidity
Porosity
and Water Absorption
1) Porosity (Note 3)

11.5%

2) Saturation Coefficient (Note 3)

0.66

3) Water Absorption

3.2% (by wt)

4) Bulk specific gravity

2371kg/m3

Resistance to Frost 
 Flexural
strength after
Freeze/Thaw Test (Note 1)

13.0 MPa

Loaded perpendicular
to the bedding plane
ambient humidity
Resistance
to Salt
Sodium Sulphate Crystallisation Test
(Note 3)

-1.13% Mean wt loss

Sodium Sulphate Crystallisation Test
(Note 3) (saturated)

51%
Mean wt loss

Resistance to Acidity 
Acid Immersion Test(Note 4)

Pass 

(Test methods Note 1 = EN1341, Note 2 = EN 1342, Note 3 = EN 1341 /BRE 141, Note 4 = BRE 141)

Tests were carried out at BRE in 1997. N.D. = not determined

Return to Stones Glossary