The Building Stones of Suffolk and the people who worked them
by Tony Redman
A definitive guide to the stones of which our county’s buildings are made. The book is part history, part field guide, and seeks to tell the stories of how the stones found in our buildings might have come to be here. Over fifty stones have been identified, following the surveying of all the stone-built buildings in the county. It also covers the artificial stones developed in Suffolk, including the earliest identified use of pre-cast concrete. The second part is an alphabetical list of the stonemasons identified as living and working within the county down to 1999. Research included the analysis of the three known masons’ archives in Suffolk, two of them for the first time.
The author, Tony Redman MA FRICS IHBC, is a conservation accredited chartered building surveyor who spent most of his working life repairing Suffolk buildings. He has been a member of the council of SIAH, is a trustee of the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust and a liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stonemasons.
What people are saying:
“Never mind The Stones of Venice. This is the true story of the Stones of Suffolk. John Ruskin might be surprised to know that this rich and important trading county in the East of England didn’t have any – so when the medieval community wanted to celebrate their commitment and their God they had to get to work. From split apart, fossilised sea animals (napped flint) to solidified mud dredged from estuary beds (septaria) to sawn slices of chalk, the stone masons of Suffolk improvised. More durable corner stones came across from Caen or Belgium by boat. The heady mix became exquisitely solid and lasting. I was very impressed with this book. Equip yourself with the ability to read walls and assess towers with this endlessly fascinating book written by a real expert. An essential and revelatory guide for anyone who treasures the beauty and majesty of Suffolk’s great church buildings. “
(Griff Rees Jones, president, Victorian Society)
“I’ve been dipping in and out of Building Stones of Suffolk and only just noticed that you’ve inscribed my copy. Thank you very much. It’s a terrific achievement, going off in all sorts of stone-related directions that I’d never have expected (e.g. lignacite), so that it will be useful as a book of reference beyond Suffolk. In fact it will now be my first port of call for stone rather than Alec Clifton-Taylor. The only down side is that every time I look at it I’m afraid it’s going to reveal something I got wrong (or at the very least could have done better) in Pevsner. But if that ever achieves a fourth edition, or goes online, it will benefit enormously from your book, as will almost anyone who writes about Suffolk buildings from now on.”
(James Bettley, editor, Buildings of England (Pevsner), Suffolk, 2015)
“Book received safely and many thanks. I’m much impressed. Well done!”
(David Bone, chair of West Sussex Geological Society, fellow of The Geological Association )
“Thank you so much for sending us your “Building Stones of Suffolk”. I have been poring over this and enjoying all the illustrations and details. Chapters 5 and 6 are particularly interesting. The story of Lignacite and its founder is most fascinating and surprising. The references have come in useful already, notably one on Saxon stone use. You must be very pleased (and relieved) that you have now achieved this valuable work. We shall keep this close by for reference.
(Ros and Ian Mercer, chairs of Essex geological society editor of Essex Rock”)
“What a wonderful item to receive in the post. Beautifully illustrated, full of information, you must be very pleased with it; I am. As I dip into books rather than read through, it will keep me going for a long time. Also I am in the middle of eye operations so things will not be properly in focus for a week or two. I have already enjoyed learning much new.. The main part of the book is good science as much is repeatable (you’ll no doubt have comments for the second edition!). The stonemasons info is valuable in many ways – I am sure many historians and architects will want this. We will advertise it in late July in GeoSuffolk Times and I am sure Caroline will note it in the Ipswich Society newsletter later in the year (the next one is about ready to publish so is full). It should be a standard reference work in many bookcases, and an example for many to follow.”
(Bob Markham, chair of GeoSuffolk)
