Paving the world – the stone that is making a comeback
IT paved the streets of the world’s great cities and employed thousands before it fell into decline.
But the Caithness flagstone industry is booming again as many of the original streets and buildings are being upgraded.
Caithness flagstone has been quarried for more than 200 years and was used to pave the streets of Boston and Sydney – and later adorned the Scottish parliament building in Edinburgh.
But cheaper stone and cement led to a seemingly terminal decline.
Now demand is returning – and the UK’s largest supplier, Spittal Mains Quarry near Wick, has just recruited extra staff to cope with orders from Boston, where the city’s waterf r ont i s undergoing a major redevelopment.
Managing director Mark Mancini said: ‘The heritage industry is becoming big business. When most of the cities on the east coast were developing, they were supplied with Caithness stone used as ballast in trading ships before being sold.
‘The main trading route was to Boston and most of the streets and buildings are clad with Caithness stone. Now some needs to be replaced and they want traditional materials.
‘We employ 35 people and will need extra staff in the future to meet demand. Others are the same and there are close to 100 now employed across the area.’
Hard-wearing and durable, Caithness flagstone was formed more than 370million years ago when layers of sediment were laid down over time, separated by volcanic dust. The dust layer allows it to be split to precise thickness and helps to give the stone its unique ‘woven’ finish.
It can be seen in Scotland as the paving stones on Glasgow’s main shopping areas of Buchanan Street and Royal Exchange Square.
Richard Bird of the industry body British Aggregates Group said: ‘It is r emarkable t hat many of t he American cities are going back to the traditional after all this time.
‘Hopefully the industry can continue to grow.’