Mandale Limestone Fire Surrounds

Unique Fossil Fireplaces

Mandale Derbyshire Fossil Limestone Fireplaces are unique, “oneoffs” for clients that want something really special that cannot be duplicated.

Mandale Derbyshire Fossil limestone is from the “once-a-week quarry” near Sheldon. The medium grey coloured limestone takes a high polish and was known locally as Sheldon Marble. The fossils are mainly crinoids, brachiopods, corals and even occasionally shark’s teeth! 

The Blue John stone comes only from the famous series of caverns in Castleton. This beautiful gemstone is mainly used for jewellery these days, but in the eighteenth century it was highly prized in prestigious fire surrounds that adorn many stately homes. 

Fireplaces can also be built to order in Limestone without the Blue John decoration. See our gallery below for a few examples of our work.

Mandale Limestone Hearths

A stone Hearth can be added to any fireplace. We can produce Hearths in Gritstone,

Mandale Limestone and Granite. Hearths are made bespoke to sizes and templates if required.

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Gallery

From source to you

Mandale Derbyshire Fossil Limestone is quarried by Natural Stone Sales sister company Mandale Stone Company, the quarry is situated at  Sheldon, near Bakewell, in the heart of the Peak District.

It’s all in the detail

The Stone is quarried using the traditional method of plugs and feathers, this method allows for no explosives to be used.  This means that holes are drilled into the blocks and metal feathers inserted the metal plugs are then driven in to split the block open.

Made in Derbyshire

Mandale Derbyshire Fossil Limestone was formed some 365 million years ago when Derbyshire was underneath warm seas. The main fossils are crinoids, Crinoids are marine animals which are sometimes referred to as Sea Lillies, other shellfish and corals are present and sometimes even a sharks tooth can be seen.

A polished slab

Occasionally when the natural beds of the limestone quarry are pure enough, dimensional block is won. These blocks are sawn into varying thickness of slabs and they are then polished. Because it takes a high polish it is also known locally as Sheldon Marble. Slabs can also be Honed or Textured to allow for different finishes.

When the blocks are cut and polished it reveals the individual and unique beauty of this historical material.

Polished  slabs can be shaped into worktops, bathroom vanity tops, fire surround, hearths and memorial stones. Clients can browse by appointment, if they wish, visit our yard to choose their own little piece of history and choose their own limestone flooring.

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