Purbeck stone - history in the making

One of our favourite products, Purbeck Stone comes from the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset and it comes with some serious heritage. The Romans quarried it for their roof tiles, as did mediaeval architects in the 12th and 13th centuries for large numbers of cathedrals – including Westminster Abbey. You can find it on Edward the Confessor’s shrine and the nave, as well as numerous stately homes and the houses of highly discerning style-minded homeowners across Britain.

Quarrying techniques have improved considerably over the years, and the arrival of opencast hydraulic machinery in the 20th century has led to increasingly extraordinary discoveries and products. 

What is Purbeck paving?

Purbeck paving is an exceptionally high quality natural stone used for interior and exterior use, drawn from a number of quarries around the Isle of Purbeck.

The Spangle and Pond freestone date back to the Jurassic era – that’s around 145 million years – and if you look closely you’ll find marine fossil shells. The Inland Purbeck beds were laid later during the Cretaceous era, and instead of sea water were formed in a brackish lagoon. This gives them a completely different colour, as well as traces of small fresh-water bivalves and gastropods. 

So what makes Purbeck paving so good?

First of all, it’s amazingly durable. Being so hard-wearing makes it ideal for areas exposed to heavy weather. In terms of character, few other natural stones can match it for its distinctive, stunning grey tone and sheer quality/beauty. And it just looks better and better with age. When Farrow and Ball have a colour named after you, you know you’re an icon. 

So if you want to add value to your home with your paving project – either for the interior of your space, or as an exterior, this is how you do it. You’ll be joining a highly elite club. Browse our full Purbeck paving range.