Elgin Industrial Stone cutting Morayshire Grampian Region Scotland. SCO 6164
Traditionally, locally sourced stone was used so that the varied geology of Scotland has had a profound influence on the nation's cultural identity and built heritage. Stone was used for a wide variety of construction purposes including strategically important medieval defences (castles, towers, walls), simple dwellings and farms. From the 16 th century onwards there was a burgeoning requirement for stone to supply villages, towns and cities. This demand for stone reached a peak during 19 th century with the expansion of Scottish cities with their extensive tenement developments. Stone was also supplied for lighthouses, harbours and bridge construction. At the same time Scottish stone, particularly granite and flagstone was exported to the continent, the eastern seaboard of America and beyond. At the height of production in the 1850s stone was supplied from over 700 quarries across Scotland. Improvements in transport, dwindling local supplies and architectural choice encouraged the importation of stone, especially sandstone, from northern England from the end of the 19 th century. From this peak of activity in the indigenous stone industry, the rapid decline in use of stone, accompanied by a decline in knowledge and skills to work and use this material, occurred during the early decades in the 20 th century as cheaper manufactured materials including brick and concrete were introduced. However, recent decades have witnessed renewed activity as the demand has increased for repair, maintenance and conservation projects and for thin panel cladding for new building, mainly for town and city office and retail buildings. The wholesale demolition of historic properties in Scottish cities during 1960s stimulated a vigorous conservation response from the public
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Location: Elgin Stoneworks Moray Grampian Region Scotland.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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