| Caithness is a county in the extreme northeast | | | | a kitchen worktop, and as tiles on the bathroom |
| corner of the Scottish mainland. It is here that | | | | floor. |
| Caithness flagstone can be found, though the | | | | Perhaps the most impressive use of the stone in |
| stone can also be found to the north of Caithness | | | | Devonian House is in the entrance hall floor where |
| too in the island groups of Orkney and Shetland. | | | | the flagstones are interspersed with oak beams. |
| The stone comes from the Old Red Sandstone, | | | | The effect is extremely impressive. |
| which is of Devonian age. It has the characteristic | | | | As early as 1793 this stone that has taken some |
| of being very finely grained. It is dark grey in | | | | 400 million years for nature to perfect was being |
| colour and it will weather to a lighter fawn shade. | | | | exported from the northeast of Scotland to all |
| It is a very durable stone, though its resistance to | | | | over the world. The city of Boston in the USA, |
| air pollution and acidic moisture is not particularly | | | | for example, had its streets paved with the |
| good. | | | | timeless beauty of Caithness flagstone. |
| As a form of sandstone it has a surprisingly high | | | | One of the great benefits to be gained from this |
| resistance to flexing. This makes it suitable for | | | | remarkable stone is the fact that it is virtually |
| areas that are heavily trafficked where there is a | | | | maintenance free. It has been described as |
| lot of wear and tear. It can resist salty | | | | indestructible, and that is indeed close to the truth. |
| environments well and has been used effectively | | | | It stands up extremely well to the extremes of |
| in harbour walls and as the building material in | | | | temperature and humidity, making it suitable for |
| houses situated close to the stormy northeast | | | | use just about anywhere in the world. |
| Scottish coast where salt spray is often in the air. | | | | When Scotland built its parliament building in |
| Devonian House in Halkirk, a few miles south of | | | | Edinburgh they wanted the best materials. The |
| Thurso in the northeast of Scotland, is a very | | | | northeast corner of Scotland supplied both of the |
| good example of how the timeless beauty of | | | | two main types of stone used: Kemnay Granite |
| Caithness flagstone can be put to use. The stone | | | | from Aberdeenshire and the famous flagstone |
| has been used to build the house walls and thin | | | | from Caithness. |
| sections of flagstone have been used as slate for | | | | In fact, wherever you find important prestigious |
| the roof. | | | | buildings you are also likely to find beautiful, |
| The garden wall is also made from this versatile | | | | timeless Caithness flagstone. For example, it can |
| stone. The wall contains no mortar, being built in a | | | | be found in the British Memorial Garden in New |
| traditionally patterned manner. Inside the house | | | | York and the in the Belfast Concert Hall, as well |
| the true aesthetic qualities of this amazing stone | | | | as in dozens of other well known places. |
| come to life. It is used in a highly polished form as | | | | |