Quiz, what 's caused the staining on this gable end?
There won't be any leaking gutters, how's all that water get up there, assuming it is water?
DG
soot & pollution washed down by rain ?
The internet is remarkable, replacing the ladder as a means of finding answers. What ever next I wonder?
It's probably carbon, soot, pollution, call it what you like....the rain probably lands on the stonework above and drips on these two pieces at the sides, it also gets onto it a bit lower down the roof too.....I assume with these pieces of stonework staying wetter for longer they hold the dirt, or possibly the pollution / soot in the water is discolouring the stonework. It wouldn't be as noticable had it been built of a darker stone or even bricks - yellow sandstone tends to highlight every little mark but is a good candidate for cleaning because it looks like brand new once cleaned, although it doesn't stay clean for very long.
The stonework looks like the industrial grime of old Leeds has already been cleaned off, except for this dark staining which won't come out. It could perhaps have been caused by metal salts, dissolved by acid rain from a weathervane or some other metal ornament (conveniently, just above the top of the picture). The main staining on the gable looks consistent with rainwater running down the curved finial in two streams, and then down the wall and over the arch.
I think it's safe to say that whatever it is, it's not coming out of the stonework or from below :o) so what's left is spread by rainwater ?
you're right, there /may/ be an iron geegaw on top of the arch and the pointing does look a bit bright and out of place so it may have been restored. odd how that staining doesn't seem to have affected the pointing, isn't it ? perhaps the staining is organic and it likes the taste of the stone and doesn't like the taste of whatever is in the pointing ?
If so one wonders how much ironmongery may lie behind that litlle round top finial. An old Co-op building near here has the top piece of the finial fastened to the top of the gable wall with iron bands. If there was an iron feature up there it would need a more substantial fastening than that rounded finial.
Unless they took down the geegaw when they did the repointing. Sadly the location of the building is not known. It may not even exist any more.
DG
I'll take a guess that there is lead on top of the stone which has since leached over the stonework. Shoud have used patination oil on the lead.]Legin
gutted :-( I thought this was quiz and someone had the answer :o)
that is washed down by rain.
What's my prize?
It's not the right colour. I get that underneath my TV aerials.
And the same goes for the Patinating Oil (Lead Carbonate) entry
If we ever find the building (let alone what caused the discolouration) you will be granted free beer for the afternoon at the "Hope & Anchor" next time Celtic + Rangers play in Leeds.
I can't say "Fairer than that".
Well I've no front teeth. :(
DG
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