Help

Royal Forest Pennant Quarry

Help with using the Building Stones Database

 

There are two ways to browse the database, either by searching on a list and using filters to narrow down your search, or by exploring the interactive map to hone in on buildings and quarries. Below you will find some hints to help you.

Either method of searching the database can lead you to the same record of a building or quarry. The record will display as all the information we currently have available, including location information, history, architecture details, geological information and photos.

The record entries on the database are focused around several cluster areas however there are many non-cluster records which fall between clusters.

Searching with the interactive map

All the buildings and quarries in the database are searchable from the map, they are indicated by a red or blue dot. Each dot can be clicked on to show the name of the building or quarry and a link to view the record in full.

Zooming in and out on the map:

  • Move the slider up for closer zoom and down for zoom out (or by clicking the + and – buttons).
  • Or hold the shift button and use the mouse to drag a box around the area you want to zoom in.
  • Or use the scrolling wheel on the mouse to zoom out and in.

ppt_map.labelled

The panel on the left gives you options to view different information. Each type of information is a ‘layer’ so it is possible to view various combinations of layers as you see fit, and are easily accessed by clicking on the tabs. The top three tabs are the most widely used:

  • Base Layers (change the background map);
    • OS map, Google Satellite Map, Google Terrain, and more.
  • Historic and Geological Maps (see additional information);
    • British Geological Maps, OS 1:25000 1937-61, OS One Inch 1955-61, OS Six Inch 1900s.
  • Building Stones (choose to display buildings and/or quarries, and narrow the results by using filters).
    • Filter results by selecting categories – Type (building), Area, Age (rock), Formation (rock), Rock Type, Name (stone), Status (quarry), Earliest Date (building/quarry).
    • The filtering options can be very useful if you are browsing the database or looking to display specific things on the map.

Searching with the filtering list (text)

The search bar found at the top of every page on the Building Stones website is the easiest way to search for building and quarries by typing in keywords (e.g. building name, or a town etc). Either search for just the database entries on the Database tab, or search for everything on the All Site tab (includes records from the database and articles from the Blog etc).

When the List of database records first appears in screen there are some hints and tips in green bubbles to help you narrow your search. The list of records of building and quarries displayed on the screen are links to view the full record. Filters are displayed in a panel on the right of the the list of record.

 

ppt_list.labelled

Firstly, you can sort (reorder) the list of  search results either by Relevance, Title (alphabetical) or by Date (when added to database).

Secondly, you can specify the source of the results under the Results From section. For example results can come from webpages, databases, articles or both. You can also view the results on the map.

Thirdly, you can filter by facet fields by expanding the categories and selecting things to narrow the search by. These are Builging Type, Area, Stone Colour, Geological Age, Geological Formation, Rock Type, Parish, Quarry Status and Earliest Date.

 

Trouble Shooting

  • Why do the dots change colour on the map?
    • Dots on the map are coloured red or blue to distinguish between buildings and quarries, at the time of writing this there are 4143 buildings and 607 quarries on the database.
    • Red will be assigned to either buildings or quarries depending on which have the most number of records displayed on the map. Blue will be assaigned to the feature with the least number displayed.

 

 

Our help pages are currently under construction.

In the meantime if you need assistance using this website please contact [email protected]

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