'Stone is the Canvas for extraordinary skill and craftsmanship today combining ancient hand carving skills with the latest computer controlled saws and cutting tools. By its very nature stone is intensely local - reflecting and representing the very geology of a place.'  Dawson Stelfox.

Countless generations have used stone to create shelter, symbols and monuments, hewn from the ground, carefully selected, shaped and carved with an evolved understanding of geology, properties and characteristics, each stone representing a distinctive sense of place. However, over the last century we have lost much of that instinctive understanding of how best to use natural stone.

As a result our rich masonry heritage has not been cared for as well as it deserves and local resources have been ignored in favour of imported stone. This book is based on the experience of academic research, practical testing and live restoration projects and is intended to disseminate good practice and lessons learnt over the last 15 years. "A practical and accessible guide for anyone interested in using or repairing natural stone in buildings and monuments"