Page:County Churches of Cornwall.djvu/29

 INTRODUCTION 7 to the cliffs between St. Ives and St. Just. The earlier mediaeval builders avoided any general use of this material, recognising its unsuitability for any work requiring high finish or delicacy of treatment. When, however, the desire for greater church accommodation set in with full vigour throughout Cornwall in the 15th cent., the supply of local stone other than granite for arcades, for the extended lines of walling with their windows and doorways, and especially for western towers, was quite inade- quate, whilst the cost of importing great quantities of material from a considerable distance was pro- hibitive. General resort was then made to native granite, with a good result so far as permanence was concerned, particularly in the interior of the buildings. A simple kind of dignity was often attained by the use of this stone in 15th cent, and early 16th cent, arcading. The granite then used was " moor-stone," or blocks found lying on or near the surface of the open moor. Such granite, after centuries of exposure to frosts and rains, is naturally far inferior to the like material when pro- cured from deep and extensive quarrying. There was, however, in all probability some late mediaeval quarry- ing in St. Constantine parish, to the E. of Helston. The grey granite of Cornwall requires exceeding patience and skill, even in these days of vastly improved mechanism, before it will yield itself to the more elementary processes of the sculptor's art. But fine results can be achieved if the effort is