St. Bee’s Sandstone

St. Bee’s Sandstone or Beestone is Triassic in age (248 to 206 million years old) and is still actively quarried in Birkhams and Grange quarries near St. Bee’s Village, Cumbria where it has been quarried from the cliffs since Medieval times.

It is a red to purplish red, fine to medium grained sandstone which has a porosity of approximately 18% and can contain clay. It is used throughout the United Kingdom and abroad, examples include Furness Abbey, Cumbria and Old City Hall, Toronto.