Clipsham Stone

Clipsham Stone is one of England's most distinguished building limestones — a warm, golden oolitic stone quarried from the tiny county of Rutland whose pedigree in the most significant conservation and restoration projects of the 20th century places it in the very highest tier of English freestones. When the decision was taken to restore the Houses of Parliament after the Second World War, Clipsham Stone was chosen as the primary replacement material — a testament to its quality, workability, and ability to match the best English building stone traditions.

What Is Clipsham Stone?

Clipsham Stone is a Jurassic oolitic limestone, formed approximately 165 million years ago in the same shallow tropical sea that produced Bath Stone, Portland Stone, and the other great Jurassic limestones of England. The Clipsham beds belong to the Lincolnshire Limestone Formation — a series of oolitic limestones that runs in a broad belt from the Humber to the Cotswolds, forming one of the richest seams of building stone in England.

The quarry at Clipsham, in Rutland near the Lincolnshire border, has been worked since at least the medieval period. The stone was used in numerous Lincolnshire and Rutland churches throughout the Middle Ages, and its qualities came to wider attention in the 19th and 20th centuries when large-scale conservation projects began to require high-quality freestone in significant quantities.

Colour and Character

Clipsham Stone is a warm golden-buff — richer and deeper in tone than the pale cream of Hopton Wood Stone, comparable in warmth to Bath Stone but with a slightly more golden, Midlands character. The oolitic grain — tiny spherical calcite particles visible on close inspection — gives the surface a fine, even texture with a subtle roundness that catches light gently.

The colour deepens slightly with weathering, developing a richer golden tone as the iron content in the stone oxidises. This weathering process enhances rather than detracts from the stone's appearance, and Clipsham Stone buildings develop a patina that integrates beautifully with the English landscape.

The Houses of Parliament Connection

The significance of Clipsham Stone's selection for the Houses of Parliament restoration cannot be overstated. The original building, largely by Charles Barry and A.W.N. Pugin, was built in Anston Stone from Yorkshire — a stone that proved less durable than expected and required extensive replacement after wartime bomb damage and weathering. The choice of Clipsham as the primary replacement material for the post-war restoration, and for subsequent phases of conservation work, established it as the benchmark English freestone for major conservation projects.

The visual match between Clipsham and the original Anston Stone, and Clipsham's own weathering performance over subsequent decades, have confirmed the wisdom of that choice. Extensive areas of the Palace of Westminster's external fabric are now in Clipsham Stone.

Applications

Heritage and conservation: Clipsham's proven performance in major conservation projects makes it the natural specification when English freestone is required for significant restoration work. Its colour and working properties match a wide range of historic English limestones.

Ashlar walling: The fine grain, workability, and warm colour of Clipsham make it an excellent ashlar stone for both restoration and new-build projects where a refined English limestone character is required.

Carved work: As a freestone, Clipsham can be carved in any direction. Mouldings, capitals, decorative panels, and lettering can all be executed with precision, and the warm colour enhances the visual quality of carved details.

Garden walls and features: Clipsham's warm, golden tone suits English garden settings of all types, from formal walled gardens to informal country garden walls. It weathers gracefully and develops a sympathetic patina.

New build: Contemporary buildings designed in the English traditional style frequently specify Clipsham for new ashlar facades, particularly in Rutland, Lincolnshire, and the surrounding counties where it is the appropriate regional stone.

Sourcing

Clipsham Quarry in Rutland continues to operate and is the primary source of the stone. It is available in dressed ashlar, random rubble, carved work, and standard formats. For major conservation projects, the quarry can advise on specific bed selection and work with conservation architects and engineers to ensure appropriate specification.