London-based stone supplier Trans-European Stone has supplied Belgian Blue limestone hard landscaping on the ‘Command of the Oceans’ project at the Historic Chatham Dockyard in Kent. The Belgian Blue welcomes you as you enter this new world class visitor centre that is part of a major investment at the docks, significantly funded by the Lottery Heritage Fund.

With more than 400 years of history and archaeology from the Spanish Armada to the Falkland’s Crisis, Chatham Dockyard on the river Medway provided more than 500 ships to the Royal Navy and employed some 10,000 people during its peak. When it closed as a naval dockyard in 1984, the 84acre site was turned into a visitor attraction run by the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. As the most complete example of a Georgian dockyard in the world, it is now being considered by the UK Government for World Heritage Site status.

Belgian Blue limestone paving from the quarry of Les Carriés de la Pierre Bleue Belge was used extensively for the external landscaping of the new visitor centre, which is due to open in time for this year’s tourist season.

Trans-European Stone supplied 2,300m² of Belgian Blue limestone paving in 200mm widths with random lengths of between 300-600mm, tumbled to give a weathered and antique finish. The Belgian Blue limestone befits the entrance to such a historically significant site that played a vital role in the nation’s maritime history, where Nelson, Samuel Pepys, Marc Brunel (Isambard Kingdom’s father, who was also an engineer) and other legends once trod.

Architect Alan Mitchell of Mitchell Baynes Architects is heading the project. He says: “We decided to use Belgian Blue limestone for the external landscaping on this project due to its colour and range of textures and finishes. It’s lasting durability will continue to welcome visitors for many, many years.”

For information about specifying and using the stone, call 0203 326 0429.