By: Jim Biddulph

Back in 2018, passersby of St Andrew’s Chapel near Maidstone in Kent would have been forgiven for dismissing the ancient building as a ruin, or missing the derelict site amongst the overgrowth altogether.

Now, seven years on, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) are proud to present the fruits of an outstanding regeneration program, with stone at the heart of the project. 

Founded by William Morris and his fellow campaigners in 1877, SPAB is the UK’s oldest conservation charity, and bought this ‘sleeping beauty’ for as little as £60,000. Recognising the value in the medieval building, with it’s rich and varied history, the team have painstakingly transformed it into a luxury three-bedroomed home which now hits the market at £950,000. The project underlines SPAB’s ongoing dedication to giving old buildings a future, which involves casework, technical research and advice, education and training, awards, outreach and events across the UK and Ireland. 

As Matthew Slocombe, CEO of SPAB explains, ‘The SPAB approach involves understanding the building you’re dealing with to work out its story and structural development. By asking the questions: who, what, when, why, and how, the best conservation solution can be identified.  Ultimately that is the way to ensure an old building is treated sympathetically.

The outcome of the Old House Project demonstrates a sensitivity to the historic fabric of the building, while bringing it up to date for contemporary habitation. As such, future generations will be able to share in it’s observable history, creating a sense of connection and place that goes well beyond the beautifully textured surfaces. Indeed, the building truly hums with a past well lived - even if the space has remained empty for the past 50 years. Originally believed to be a gatehouse chapel for nearby Boxley Abbey, the chapel prospered from it’s locality to the Pilgram’s Way, receiving donations from devoted wayfarers as far back as 1484 (indicated by tree ring dating of roof timbers). Built during a time of mulitplicite religious relics, the chapel house actually housed a silver clad finger of St Andrew. While built to last using the finest local ragstone and oak, the building suffered at the hands of political …with the dissolution of the monastaries some 50 years after it’s completion. However, having been passed to to Tudor poet and courtier Sir Thomas Wyatt of nearby Allington Castle, the chapel remained in safe hands, until it was later turned into a cottage in the 18th Century, and more recently used as a grocery in the late 20th Century.

Over the last seven years SPAB has worked closely with Kent Archaeological Society, Historic England, local people and the council to uncover the building’s story and, even more importantly, to bring St Andrew’s back to life. It’s another stunning example of the teams ongoing aim to turnaround the decline of traditional building craft skill, with repairs to the wood and stone elements being carried out with local material and craftspeople. Lime for conservation work was burnt on site using chalk from the North Downs; stone and aggregate came from Maidstone’s Hermitage ragstone quarry. The impressively crowned and charmingly irregular Kent peg-tiled roof was provided by a local roofing firm and specialist manufacturers, who replaced damaged tiles with new handmade clay ones. The brickwork was  conserved by Lynn Mathiasat, known for their work at Hampton Court and Chequers, while the conservation team from Owlsworth IJP, led by mason-turned-site-manager Jim Whitbread, under the direction of architect Mal Fryer were central to the entire process.

Given that around a fifth of the UK’s housing stock is classified as historic (pre-1919), and more often than not, made using stone, this project offers a shining light in how older buildings can be beautifully restored and given a new lease of life.

East Yorkshire-based stone fabrication tooling company, Stonegate Precision Tooling Ltd, have made senior structural changes within the business as they look to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK, Europe and USA. At senior executive level, former Managing Director, Graham Hazell, will move to the newly-created role of Chief Executive of Operations, while Commercial Manager, Clayton Worsley will take on the role of Managing Director.

In further changes, the business announced the addition of a new Head of Operations. Mark Dennis joins Stonegate from F.Jones Cleveland t/a Gemini. As the company looks to streamline its operational and technical teams, the recruitment of a new Head of Operations will be bolstered by the support of new Technical Team leader, Duncan Collie, who has been with the business for over five years.

New Managing Director, Clayton Worsley commented:
“Over the past two years, we have looked to build on our position as UK market leaders with stone fabrication tooling and solutions, as well as capitalising on previously identified opportunities in newer markets in the United States and Europe. Mark joins us with over 25 years of experience in the stone industry, and his specialism in Operations will allow us to elevate our service and support to customers both here and abroad.
Duncan has been a vital part of our growth to where we are in the UK, and his elevation to this new role will allow him to further optimise processes within the technical team, delivering the ultimate level of service to our customers.”

Chief Executive of Operations, Graham Hazell:
“These senior structural changes at Stonegate are a real statement of intent about our ambitions. Our growth since 2019 has been rapid and while we have managed to keep pace with it, and continue delivering world-leading tooling, support and advice, for us to move to the next level, we decided that a hierarchical reshuffle was essential.
We are thrilled with the changes and with how it widens up our scope of opportunity. With Clayton leading the business on a day-to-day basis, Mark bringing decades of specialised experience and Duncan now having the mandate to provide next-level insight into the future of stone fabrication, we feel we are incredibly well-placed to bring our passion for excellence to the UK, USA and Europe.”
 

Stone Specialist is delighted to welcome Jim Biddulph to the editorial team as a contributing editor. With a career defined by hands-on exploration of materials, colour, and construction, Jim brings a fresh and dynamic perspective to the publication, one rooted in nearly two decades of research, design, writing, and real-world experience.

Jim’s multifaceted background spans design, build, and editorial work, with a distinctive focus on materiality and making. His career began in 2007 at one of London’s pioneering material resource spaces, Material Lab, where he played a central role in shaping the studio over a ten-year period. This formative chapter laid the foundation for his ongoing passion for uncovering and communicating the stories behind materials, a passion that has evolved into a unique voice within the industry.

An active writer and Design Insider Ambassador, Jim has spent the past six years publishing regular features that explore materials through the lens of sustainability, circular design, and human impact. He has become known for championing innovation, spotlighting forward-thinking projects, and asking the bigger questions about how and why we build.

Jim’s design credentials are equally robust. He has curated and built exhibition spaces for major design events including 100% Design, Clerkenwell Design Week, UK Construction Week, Surface Design Show, and Milan Furniture Fair. His creative versatility is further reflected in his collaborations with Dulux, contributing to the Colour Futures panel and supporting initiatives like the Colour in Design Award.

Teaching is another key pillar of Jim’s work. He regularly lectures across UK universities, sharing his insights with students on creative materials, colour application, and sustainable practice.

Currently, Jim’s career takes an adventurous turn as he travels to Siargao, Philippines. There, he is leading a team of young architectural professionals in a hands-on sustainable building project with CAUKIN Studio and Lokal Lab, constructing farmer lodges using local materials and low-impact methods.

With his unique blend of knowledge, creativity, and global perspective, Jim will enrich Stone Specialist with stories that go beyond the surface, exploring how material choices shape both projects and the planet.

We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to the thoughtful insights and vibrant ideas he’ll bring to our readers.

If you have any exciting news to share or just want to get in touch about a new project, please email:

jim.biddulph@stonespecialist.com 

The stone and hard surfaces sector in the UK is undergoing a significant transformation, shaped by growing demand for sustainable materials, heightened regulatory scrutiny, and a renewed focus on modern applications of both natural and engineered stone. In the past two weeks, a series of developments, ranging from industry relaunches to health concerns, have underscored the sector’s evolving importance within the wider built environment.

A key milestone is the recent announcement of the relaunch of the Stone Show and Hard Surfaces, now set to co-locate with UK Construction Week in 2026. This move places stone and surface technologies at the heart of the UK's largest construction event, reflecting growing recognition of their strategic role in delivering on net zero, safety, and design quality. The integration is also timely, as developers, architects, and local authorities increasingly look for practical, low-carbon materials to meet tightening environmental standards. In this context, stone, long viewed as a traditional material, is being rediscovered for its resilience, thermal mass, and low embodied carbon when sourced responsibly.

One area gaining particular traction is the use of massive-precut stone. This method involves large, pre-dimensioned blocks being craned into place with minimal mortar, allowing for rapid assembly and high structural integrity. While historically associated with heritage buildings, the method is now being explored for modern housing, office, and civic projects in the UK, especially where fire resistance and lifecycle performance are critical. As the industry responds to stricter carbon targets, the simplicity and durability of load-bearing stone offer a compelling alternative to conventional steel and concrete systems, if cost barriers can be addressed through scale and innovation.

Alongside this revival in natural stone, engineered stone remains a major part of the UK interiors and surfaces market, particularly for kitchens, bathrooms, and commercial finishes. However, it is facing intense scrutiny due to a growing health and safety crisis. In recent weeks, reports have confirmed multiple cases of silicosis in UK workers handling quartz-based surfaces, leading to renewed calls for tighter regulation. A number of fabricators have already introduced bans on high-silica products, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is under pressure to follow Australia’s lead in imposing a full prohibition on certain engineered stone types. The implications for UK suppliers are substantial: dust control measures, wet cutting systems, and strict PPE protocols are now essential, not optional, for businesses wishing to remain compliant and protect their workforce.

The industry is also seeing renewed investment in UK-sourced materials and fabrication innovation. Smaller quarries are reviving lesser-used native stones, while workshops are adopting CNC and digital tooling to improve precision and reduce waste. This resurgence of interest in local sourcing aligns with broader government priorities on regional development, heritage conservation, and net zero delivery.

In summary, the UK’s stone and hard surfaces sector stands at a pivotal moment. Those who can balance design quality with environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance are well-positioned to lead. As market conditions evolve, stone is no longer just a finish, it’s a future-facing material redefining how Britain builds.

From: Marmomacchine International

The final 2024 statistics processed by the CONFINDUSTRIA MARMOMACCHINE Studies Center showed a double-digit downturn in exports of Italian technologies for extracting and processing natural stones, after average annual growth of more than 7% in the three years post-pandemic. Last year the foreign sales of the Italian techno-stone industry – which account for some 75% of the sector’s total revenue – in fact decreased in value by 14% from 2023, going from 1,127.3 to 969.4 million euros.

Negatively influencing export performance was the heavy drop in orders from some of the sector’s main reference buyers, especially the United States – always the top market for stone-working machinery, installations, equipment and tools Made in Italy – whose 2024 imports lessened by 22.5%, to worth of 137.5 million euros. Turkey rose to second place in buyer ranking (+7.1%, to 68.6 million) and France took third (+24.6%, to 58.3 million).

As for the rest of the top ten importers of stone technologies Made in Italy, purchases by the United Kingdom held steady (+7.6%, to 42.9 million) as did Brazil’s (+3.6%, to 30.4 million), while unfortunately there was a decided downturn in sales to other leading European and North American markets: Spain (-19.5%, to 53.1 million), Canada (-12.4%, to 52.5 million), Germany (-24%, to 42.2 million), Poland (-23.9%, to 31.9 million) and Portugal (-13.8%, to 31.2 million).

Natural Stone: Sustainably Versatile

This year’s expression of The Stone Tapestry is an exploration of the versatility and reusability of nature’s original sustainable material, natural stone.

The piece explores the capability of stone to deliver both strong and delicate designs as well as its ability to deliver both understated and bold tones and textures all with the potential for reuse.

The story of stone’s sustainability credentials is being talked about perhaps now more than ever, which is why The Stone Tapestry has been designed to be a place for conversation; a space for architects, interior designers, engineers and clients to come and ask their own questions and join the conversation.

The piece is a truly collaborative effort, originating as a collaborative project between leading architectural practice, Squire & Partners and Stone Federation but also bringing in the stonemasonry expertise of The Stone Masonry Company alongside the materials and fabrication of Albion Stone, A F Jones Interiors, Britannicus Stone, Hutton Stone Co., The Marble Collective and The Stonemasonry Company.