APS Masonry, one of the oldest and most respected names in stonemasonry, are closing down their workshops in Osney Mead, Oxfordshire.

However, the APS Masonry name, with its roots going back to 1815, will be retained, offering a stone consultancy and management service.

Aidan Mortimer, Chief Executive of the the Symm Group, of which APS Masonry are part, says in a statement: “This has been a difficult decision for the Board, but we believe that it is essential in these difficult economic times to focus full attention on the profitable parts of our business.

“Sadly, APS Masonry have found conditions in the stone production marketplace very challenging for some time and our long term view is that it is not viable to continue with production.”

“APS Masonry will fulfil all outstanding commitments and production operations are expected to cease by the end of March 2010.”

Expanding on the announcement, Aidan told NSS it had not been an easy decision to make.

He said: “Unlike the building or heating and plumbing work we do, which are common to all projects, stone isn’t. It has spikes when there are projects. It’s a sector of the market that has its peaks and troughs perhaps more dramatically than others. The recession has made it worse.

“We did a huge amount of work in Oxford from the 1960s/’70s to the ’90s, but since then it’s been a rather more erratic workload.

“The growth of the conservation movement in the past decade or two means the large restoration projects haven’t been around… although I think they might return because conservation only postpones the work.”

APS Masonry lost four people last year, leaving it with 20 under the direction of APS Masonry Managing Director Jonathan Grayburn.

Some of them will be retained, says Aidan, to continue the consultancy and management service. He would not say how many.

APS have a well-equipped workshop. They were among the world’s first purchasers of the heavyweight Brembana G-Rex CNC workcentre and just last year bought a hefty new BM saw. Aidan says the machinery will probably be put up for sale and invites anyone interested in it to contact him at the Symm Group (aidan@symm.co.uk).

“The business stays alive. We’re redirecting it, not disappearing,” he says.