The enduring relevance of traditional stone craft was placed firmly in the spotlight earlier this month as the Stone Federation hosted the latest edition of the Stone Heritage Conversation at the Society Building in London. At a time when the construction industry is reassessing the carbon cost of its material choices, the event set out a timely reminder: heritage-led stone practice, rooted in repair, reuse and longevity, offers lessons that modern construction can no longer afford to overlook.

Bringing together heritage architects, structural engineers, contractors and client bodies, the evening was chaired by the Federation's Stone Heritage Forum and opened with a welcome from Stone Federation Chief Executive Jane Buxey, followed by a keynote from Stone Heritage Chair Bernard Burns. Both emphasised the growing need for conservation-minded approaches as the sector looks for low-carbon strategies grounded in proven durability.

Speakers reflected the breadth and depth of contemporary heritage work.
Will Palin, Chief Executive of Barts Heritage and Patron of Sheerness Dockyard Trust, presented the multi-award-winning Sheerness Dockyard project, an exemplar in sensitive repair and adaptive reuse. Jamie Coath, Senior Partner at Purcell, explored the Manchester Town Hall scheme, highlighting how the project’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of craftspeople is as significant as the restoration itself.

Robert Greer, Director at PAYE Stonework & Restoration, delivered an insightful session on spolia, the ancient practice of reclaiming and reusing stone, positioning it as highly relevant amid today’s retrofit agenda. As his essay in the first Stone Collective book underscores, the heritage sector’s long-established methods align naturally with circularity and resource efficiency.

The evening concluded with a panel discussion featuring Historic England’s Clara Willett and Szerelmey’s Bernard Burns, who, alongside the speakers, unpacked shared themes around long-term stewardship, embodied carbon, and the vital role of specialist skills in safeguarding historic assets.

Across presentations and the discussions that continued into the networking session, a clear message emerged: the heritage stone sector offers a vital corrective to the quick, high-carbon construction approaches that dominate much of today’s industry. Its methodologies, centred on repair, reuse, longevity and material integrity, provide not only cultural and architectural value but a credible pathway toward genuinely sustainable building.

Stone Federation extends thanks to the evening’s speakers, to sponsors PAYE Stonework & Restoration and Stonewest, and to all who attended and contributed to another successful Stone Heritage Conversation.