Appendix: History of Cast Stone

Roman origins

Cast stone dates back to ancient Rome with the invention, in the second century BC, of Pozzolana cement and structural concrete – in fact, cast stone is a special form of high quality concrete.

Suitable for structural applications, the material was used in Rome to form wide vaulted arches and gateways at the Colosseum and for the Pantheon's famous 50m span dome.

Development of artificial stone

The first known examples of simulated stone were produced in medieval France. Lintels resembling sandstone were cast from natural aggregates and lime-pozzalan cement in Carcassonne around 1135.

Simulated stone in Britain

The first architecturally significant use of simulated stone in Britain was Coade Stone, used for classical detailing by Robert Adam, John Nash and Sir John Soane.

The rediscovery of concrete in the 19th century and the invention of Portland cement – which resembled Portland limestone in colour – led to a large number of patented 'artificial' stones. The revival of neoclassical forms in the 20th century aided the use of reconstructed stone to emulate natural Portland stone facades.

Cast stone today

Late in the 20th century, cast stone was increasingly used for structural applications and larger panels with complex reinforcements. And post modernist architects use classical cast stone detailing to relate to an existing context such as brickwork with string courses, pediments, gables and cornices. The material is widely used by housebuilders to add value to their schemes.