While some stone companies, especially those that were supplying granite worktops to the new build housing market, have already become victims of the credit crunch, most in the stone industry have so far remained relatively untouched by the economic downturn.

One factor that has cushioned the industry is that it had such an historically high level of work when Northern Rock was forced to seek liquidity support from the Bank of England and the whole banking crisis started to unravel in September 2007.

It took time for it to become apparent just how serious the problems in the City of London were, but even now quarries and stone wholesalers supplying stonemasons say the effect is not great.

At Albion Stone, who quarry Portland limestone, Michael Poultney says: “If I didn’t read any newspapers or watch any television I wouldn’t know anything much had happened.”

He said the Olympics would definitely go ahead in 2012 and orders were being received from hotels needing to smarten up for the event “because it’s now or never”.

At Stone Firms, who also quarry Portland stone, Estates Manager Tim Clotworthy says they have long term contracts that will be going through their factory for at least 12 months.

In Derbyshire, Realstone also say they have work on for the next 8-10 months at least, although, like everyone else, they know of projects that have been put on hold.

Managing Director Iain Kennedy says they are optimistic and have expanded with a new division called Realstone Facades to promote their Generix rainscreen system with its 30mm stone weighing just 75kg/m². Launched at the Stone Show at ExCeL London this year it has so far been specified for two projects.

Even Stamford Stone in Rutland, who specialise in the supply of walling stone to the housing market, say that although walling sales are down perhaps 30%, sales of higher value dressed stone are up.

Paul Gidley at Pisani, whose new £10million depot at Feltham near Heathrow airport will have its first open days for the trade next month, says it would be naive to assume that stone is immune to the downturn but says there is nothing like the doom and gloom reported on the TV and in newspapers.

Beltrami in Dudley will be moving into a new £3million depot just five miles from their existing site but twice the size next year, which Martin Dolby, who heads the UK operation, admits has made the Belgian parents a little nervous. However, he says while getting sales is becoming harder, his turnover in the UK this year is 8% up on last year.

Paul Sambrook at Brachot-Hermant in Birmingham says September sales were surprisingly good and comparable with the same time last year, although he and his team were having to work harder to get them.

Louis Livramento of London masons Livra sums it up: “There’s a lot of fear out there… fear and confusion.” However, he added: “Based on the past month I’m quite optimistic.”