Award-winning limestone gets top marks in prestigious Oxford renovations

Clipsham limestone is known for its incredible quality, provenance and heritage. It has become highly sought-after for its natural ability to blend with some of the UK’s most historic architectural landscapes – from the cloisters of Oxford University, to the seat of government itself at the Palace of Westminster. Clipsham limestone is used in both restorations and new projects, and the results speak for themselves.

In fact, Clipsham limestone has become so synonymous with architectural success, it’s now award-winning – with several projects recognised for their innovation, sustainability, and architectural merits.

Rhodes House was one such project. This Oxford University building, built between 1926 and 1929, required extensive restoration and redevelopment, with the goal of preserving the original 1920s facade. As well as that, the University wished to update the building for modern usage: Rhodes House was to incorporate new learning and residential spaces for Oxford’s student body.

Stone Federation Great Britain recognised Rhodes House with its award for ‘New Build Cladding, Traditional Handset’. Extensive works had been required, on what was a very enclosed site. Two porter lodges had needed to be deconstructed – along with a portion of the boundary walls – in order for the works to take place. The lodges were rebuilt later using salvaged stone, further enhancing the sustainability of the project.

Rhodes House gained a complex system of cladding as part of the renovations. Stone ‘fins’ were added in order to mask a ventilation system, which was a necessary modern addition, sympathetically installed in a Grade II listed building. 

The Stone Federation judges commented that Rhodes House was a great example of a “tightly controlled, appropriate facade and landscaping work… the present-day architect and stone contractor have produced a delightful marriage between original and new parts. As the building begins to mature, the contrast between the two will combine and allow the exteriors to grow old gracefully.”

We’re immensely proud of our contribution to the work at Rhodes House, and the way that Clipsham limestone has been recognised for its versatility, sustainability, and timeless elegance. 

Stone Federation Great Britain recently commended another project at Oxford University, that used Clipsham limestone in a sympathetic restoration. St John’s Cloisters, part of St John’s College Oxford, is a Grade I listed building. It was built in the 16th century, and is a magnificent example of the architectural heritage of this ancient educational institution. 

The Laudian Library extension in the Canterbury Quadrangle was in need of extensive repair and restoration. The columns were beginning to fail, and cosmetic repair simply wouldn’t have been enough. Such an integral part of the construction could not be left unremediated, lest the entire building become structurally unsound. 

Clipsham Medwell was selected for repairs to the frontispieces of the Cloisters. It was one of three stones selected, in order to fully blend with the existing architecture. The Stone Federation judges praised the results as being “exceedingly well executed”.

As with Rhodes House, the work carried out at St John’s Cloisters is a shining example of the potential of Clipsham limestone. Clipsham continues to be a sought-after option for heritage stoneworks, and we at Stamford Stone are hugely proud to be the exclusive suppliers of this outstanding building material. 

If you’re planning a project – whether a new build or a restoration – and would like to know about Clipsham limestone, why not visit our website? There, you’ll find more information and case studies, detailing the extensive experience we have supplying and working on some of the most high-profile buildings in the UK. 

Visit https://www.stamfordstone.co.uk/ today.