Stone has been used as a structural material in the United Kingdom since mediaeval times, both in the form of dimension stone in the great cathedrals and, more recently, in the form of cladding for modern office buildings. There is a range of indigenous building stone used in Britain ranging from granites, lime‐stones, sandstones and magnesian lime‐stones, to dolomitic sandstones, slates and others. Marbles are used extensively, but are mainly imported. The mediaeval cathedrals were in the main built from stone available from nearby quarries, eg Lincoln stone, Doulting stone (Wells Cathedral), but some of those quarries are almost worked out and alternative currently available sources of stone which is aesthetically and physically compatible with existing stone are constantly being sought.