Sussex sandstone is being used in the restoration of Fairllight Castle, near Hastings, a Victorian replica of a Scottish baronial castle.

The newly formed company of The Pooks Hill Stonemasonry Studio at Burwash, East Sussex, has won the multi-million pound contract to carry out the work, which includes making five new gothic fireplaces. The work has to be completed by early June when the owners return.

The Pooks Hill Stonemasonry Studio, Westdown Lane, Burwash TN19 7JT (Tel: 01435 883100) has been set up by James McIlvenny.

Subcontractors for exteriors on the project are Mark Tilley Associates, also based in Sussex.

Mark Tilley, who runs the company, says he has been spending a lot of time lately on the rebranding of National Westminster Banks, which are now part of the Royal Bank of Scotland. He has 120 branches to do.

He says the jobs generally involved taking down what is there and then putting it back, although some new materials has been used. He praises stone wholesalers Pisani for coming up with materials that he has needed.

Mark Tilley Associates got the job out of the blue. They had worked for NatWest before, years ago, and someone had kept their details on file. They were contacted and asked to quote. The bank accepted the quote.