Beer Quarry Caves
Medieval window tracery carved from Beer limestone.
Carved underground in 58 pieces by candle light in 1492
The quarrymen, often aided by child labourers, cut the stone free of the cave walls. Since the stone quickly hardened when exposed to air, it was worked by skilled stonemasons as soon as possible. The masons worked inside the caves, where the relatively constant temperature meant the stone was not subject to damage from frost or changeable weather.
Beer Quarry Caves
Medieval window tracery carved from Beer limestone.
Carved underground in 58 pieces by candle light in 1492
The quarrymen, often aided by child labourers, cut the stone free of the cave walls. Since the stone quickly hardened when exposed to air, it was worked by skilled stonemasons as soon as possible. The masons worked inside the caves, where the relatively constant temperature meant the stone was not subject to damage from frost or changeable weather.