Building Stones Database for England

Strategic Stone Study

The Strategic Stone Study WebGIS viewer was retired on 31st March 2023. A replacement online application, the Building Stones Database for England Map Explorer, is now available via the Historic England website

For more information about the retirement of the former Strategic Stone Study WebGIS viewer please see our FAQ section below.

What was the Strategic Stone Study WebGIS viewer?

The Strategic Stone Study WebGIS viewer was a web-based application aimed at the general public and professionals alike. It enabled users to search the Strategic Stone Study dataset to investigate the quarrying and use of building stones across England.

Why is the Strategic Stone Study WebGIS viewer being retired?

In the years since the launch the Strategic Stone Study WebGIS viewer in 2012, the underpinning technologies have evolved substantially. Critical software no longer receives developer support and, as such, the existing application cannot be maintained and must be retired. The Strategic Stone Study dataset, currently held within a BGS corporate database, will continue to be maintained and will be accessible via a different means.

Is there a replacement to the Strategic Stone Study WebGIS viewer?

Yes. Historic England are developing a replacement to the Strategic Stone Study WebGIS: the Building Stone Database for England Mapping Explorer. This will possess much of the functionality of the existing application and will provide ongoing access to the Strategic Stone Study dataset.

Who can I contact about this change?

If you have any comments or questions about this change that is not covered by this page, please contact: Clara.Willett@historicengland.org.uk.

Project overview

University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, © Tarnia McAlester

England's rich architectural heritage owes much to the great variety of stones used in its buildings and other structures. Stone buildings commonly reflect the local geology, imparting local distinctiveness to historic towns, villages and rural landscapes. Stone is the major building material in many of the half-a-million listed buildings and 9,500 conservation areas in England.

If the character of these buildings and areas is to be maintained, supplies of new matching stone are needed for repair and for new construction. In many cases, however, the source of the original stone is not known and even if it is known, it is not unusual to find that the quarry has long-since closed. This makes it difficult to obtain suitable stone for repairs or for new-build projects. By identifying the most significant building stones used in the past and by establishing where they came from and potential alternative sources, the Building Stones Database for England attempts to address these problems.

The Building Stones Database for England Map Explorer – an online GIS resource – enables you explore building stones and their sources throughout England, as well as the bedrock and superficial geology.

Please contact Clara Willett for further information.

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information included in the Building Stones Database for England is correct, individuals or organisations should independently verify information before acting on it. The British Geological Survey, UK Research and Innovation and those who provided data for the project cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the use of, or results obtained from the use of, this information.