Stone is the natural rock quarried and worked for building, carving and ornament, and it is one of the oldest and most enduring materials in British architecture and interiors. In the antiques trade the term covers limestone, sandstone, marble, granite, slate and flint, together with the many objects made from them, from chimneypieces, columns and balustrading to troughs, urns, sundials, statuary and flagged floors.
Britain's varied geology gave each region its own building character: honey-coloured Cotswold and Bath limestone, pale Portland stone favoured for grand public buildings, the hard gritstones and sandstones of the north, and the slates of Wales and Cumbria. Carved stone was central to medieval churches and later to Georgian country houses, where masons produced fine architectural detail and garden ornament. Artificial alternatives such as Coade stone and Victorian cast or composition stone offered cheaper moulded versions. Collectors and designers value antique stone for its weathering, lichen and soft patina, which cannot easily be imitated. Points to check include frost damage, delamination, old repairs and the stability of any jointed pieces, while provenance and regional character add considerably to interest.
