norse stone limited
Caithness flagstone is a Devonian sandstone, named after the Northern Scottish
county in which it is most abundant and famous for its jet black appearance when
polished. The flagstone is unrivalled in its versatility and durability, as a
result of this, it can be found around the world in paving, architecture and,
more recently, interiors. We've spent a long time getting to know the properties
of this fascinating material and discovering how best to apply its exceptional
properties to stylish and practical solutions for modern living interior and
exterior projects. All quarrying, processing, hand finishing and quality control
checks are done by us at source in Caithness, shipping orders around the UK and
beyond. Over 25 years' combined experience means we know exactly which layer to
extract and how to cut and finish the stone to ensure a stunning end product.
Caithness flagstone was formed some 370 million years ago as result of
subsidence and deposition in a structural basin known as the Orcadian Cuvette,
also known as Lake Orcadia. The material was believed to have been discovered by
Stoneage farmers who used it to structure their impressive tombs. In the 19th
century the Caithness flagstone industry was buoyant, and the material was
shipped all over the world from 11 major quarries in Caithness. It was during
this time that the 'Spittal beds' were discovered to contain the finest grade
material for strength and durability combined. Norse Stone operates two quarries
in Caithness - Lieurary and Banniskirk, both are located near the village of
Halkirk. These are within the Spittal beds, giving us access to the best
Caithness flagstone available.
