by Simon Scott MA

120 pages, 20 photographs, hardback with dust wrapper.

Publication date: November 2009



£15 inc P&P (UK only)
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For P&P to other countries please email publishing@haddonstone.co.uk


Recent reviews

 “a huge addition to the published work on the subject”
John Davis, Antique Garden Ornament

“This scholarly and readable study fills a gap in the gardening library.”
Richard Brooks, Historic Gardens Review

“A very solid and enlightening piece of work ~ rich, insightful and multi-faceted.”
Dr Simon Richards, University of Leicester

“very useful … good on technical detail … a valuable introduction and overview.”
Matthew Saunders MBE, Secretary of the Ancient Monuments Society

“… do read this book.  It will make you scrutinise your core beliefs and that is rarely a bad thing to do.”
Michael Scammell, IHBC Context, July 2010

“Simon Scott has produced a very interesting and informative book on artificial stone.  All the history is there … the detailed historical chapters must interest anyone who loves architectural ornament.”
Hilary Peters, Editor, Follies, Autumn 2010

About the book

Artificial stone has a long and illustrious history that intertwines with the great boom in classically inspired country house building from the eighteenth century onwards. There have been more imitations of stone than of any other natural building material. This persistent emulation has most consistently been for reasons of economy, availability and fashion - particularly where quarried stone is difficult, time-consuming and forbiddingly expensive to employ.

This volume provides a history of the most important manufacturers of artificial stone from the eighteenth century to the present day, mainly from the perspective of garden or landscape ornamentation.

Chapter I identifies clay and cement-based manufacturing as the two principal methods for the creation of artificial stone.

Chapter II reviews the principle manufacturers from the early-eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, a period dominated by the Coade company.

Chapter III examines the manufacturers who succeeded Coade from the mid nineteenth through to the early-twentieth century, focussing on Blashfield, Austin & Seeley, Doulton and Pulham.

Chapter IV looks at the revival in artificial stone manufacturing from the Second World War to the present, principally through the works of Chilstone and Haddonstone.

Chapter V explores both historical and contemporary perceptions of artificial stone over the last three hundred years, thereby identifying both changes and similarities in opinion relating to this sometimes controversial material ~ chronicling the debate that has run from the eighteenth century to the present as to the acceptability of artificial stone.

This work is based on a dissertation submitted for an MA course at the University of Leicester entitled: `The Country House: Art History and Literature' for which the author was awarded a pass with distinction.

The principal archives consulted during research for the dissertation were those of the British Library, National Archives, National Art Library at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library, Royal Institute of British Architects, Stamford Museum Archives, and Haddonstone Archives. The latter presented a rich vein of material that has not previously been studied or chronicled.

Foremost among the secondary reference sources was undoubtedly Antique Garden Ornament by John Davis, who kindly allowed the author full access to his comprehensive archives. The only significant volume on any of the manufacturers in the field of artificial stone is Alison Kelly's seminal work, Mrs Coade's Stone. For amusement, nothing can surpass Richard Holt's A Short Treatise of Artificial Stone dating from 1730. It is a wonderful volume which allowed the author to read, at first hand, the impassioned words of the first known exponent of artificial stone in modern times - being at times passionate, erudite, naïve, even ridiculous. Whilst there are many general works on the subject of garden ornamentation, few are of truly academic value. Everything else proved to be a fascinating jigsaw of contemporary and secondary material.


About the Author

By the same author:
Formula One Drivers' Profiles, 1982
The Follies of Boughton Park, 1995

As a Director of Haddonstone Ltd, Simon Scott was allowed unrestricted access to the company's archives. The company also has an extensive library with volumes dating to the early-eighteenth century. The author's position at Haddonstone - where he has been responsible for the company's marketing, library and archives since 1989 - undoubtedly served to foster his genuine passion for the subject matter of this work. The author was also responsible for the design of Haddonstone's two medal-winning Show Gardens at the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show. The author is a member of the Historic Gardens Foundation and the Folly Fellowship and travels extensively to visit historically significant landscapes.