Portland limestone extractors Albion have set up a series of sample panels of their stones from different quarries and beds to try to make the selection of stone easier for specifiers.

They unveiled their stone panels at their works on the Dorset island of Portalnd to appreciative groups comprising architects and trade customers at an open day at the beginning of this month.

The 2m x 1.5m panels are intended to circumvent the problem of delivered stone not matching a 100mm square sample sent on request in the post. They have been oriented due east, as architects often require sample panels to be so that they are kissed by the sun at mid-day. And they are intended to be viewed from 2m to give a realistic idea of how they will appear on the building. Albion guarantee to supply stone within the range shown on the panels.

They hope the panels will encourage specifiers to visit the quarries (and mines) and workshop on Portland to see how stone is extracted and processed and to get an appreciation of the size and quality of the operation there.

Michael Poultney, managing director of Albion, says he was delighted to see 20 architects among the 75 visitors to his open day - and all of them seeming to have London projects tucked under their arms.