Types of Stone we use at Tomlinson Stonecraft

Natural stone varies in colour and texture with some veining and coloured grains, shells and fossils, making every stone fireplace and masonry product unique.

Tomlinson Stonecraft uses three types of natural Sandstone quarried in the north of England, and a natural Limestone quarried in Somerset. These four very different types of natural stone give a wide selection for colour, texture and final look of your choice of stone fireplace.

Stone samples are available – please contact us.

Yorkstone (Sandstone)

Quarried near Halifax in Yorkshire, this fine grained sandstone is of very high quality, durability and strength. Yorkstone has a smooth finish making it ideal for fine detailed carvings and moulds. It comes in a clean buff/grey/brown colour to an almost light sand colour, occasionally contains faint veining and coloured grains.

Yorkstone is a sedimentary rock formed as deltaic river deposits during the carboniferous period over 300 million years ago. It consists of silica, quarts, iron oxides, clay, mica and feldspar.

Yorkstone is used in a wide variety of buildings and construction but is perhaps best known for its use as paving. Yorkstone was the traditional London paving stone.

High Moor (Sandstone)

Also a fine grained sandstone of very high durability and strength with a smooth finish in a buff/ brown/grey colour. Quarried near Oldham in Lancashire, the High Moor sandstone contains strong coloured veining flowing through it with also small deposits of charcoal known as fleck. This extra colour and detail gives the stone added character with a warm look. Like the Yorkstone, this is also an excellent stone to give a sharpness on carved and more detailed pieces.

This Sedimentary rock is composed of feldspar, quarts and silica compressed together as sand sized minerals or rock grains.

The High Moor sandstone is used in a wide variety of construction in Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Lancashire, as well as further afield.

Coarse Grit (Sandstone)

Quarried near Skipton in North Yorkshire, this Coarse Grit sandstone is also known as Millstone Grit. It is a carboniferous grit stone formed in similar ways to the High Moor and Yorkstones. The Gritstone is composed of coarse and often angular sand grains and small pebbles giving it a more rustic look and feel. This fairly consistent sandstone comes in a grey/buff colour with some faint veining and coloured grains. An ideal stone for designs such as the Chardonnay, this sedimentary rock was traditionally used in Britain for mill stones to mill flour. It is now used in most aspects of building work such as window/ door surrounds and fireplaces as it is a very durable natural stone.

Bathstone (Limestone)

At Tomlinson Stonecraft we use Bath stone from the Stoke Ground quarry at Limpley Stoke on the outskirts of Bath. The Bath stone is an oolitic Limestone formed over 135 million years ago during the middle Jurassic period, comprising of granular calcium carbonate fragments. Lime covered layers of marine sediment under the sea to form this sedimentary rock.

The Bath stone is a soft Limestone with quite an open grain giving it a slight antique look. It comes in a beautiful cream/ slight honey colour which mellows over time. It contains shells, veining and small fossils.

Bath stone isn’t just used in the beautiful Roman and Georgian city of Bath, it is extensively used in both new build and restoration projects throughout the U.K.
It is regularly used by English heritage and often specified by the Royal household.

If you prefer to have a different type of stone for your hearth or chamber stone, such as Slate, then we can supply to your requirements.