Building in Stone

The Palmers used several types of stone at Parham. A local sandstone called Amberley Blue was the main choice for the external walls. As it was not very durable it was rendered, with the render coloured and finished to give the impression either of a better quality stone or perhaps even brickwork. A more expensive but still local sandstone, Pulborough stone, was used for windows and doorways. For the corners of the building (the quoins), quantities of the hard-wearing Bath limestone were brought in. Inside the house, where there was no risk of rain or frost damaging the stone, the builders used a pale, hard chalk called clunch.