Purbeck Grub
Information
Grub is the most varied of all the Purbeck stones. Each block ranges in colour from brown towards its edges to light blue/grey/green in its centre.
Grub can have a subtly variegated appearance, or sometimes feature its small fossil shells more prominently, which adds natural detail and character. There may also be white calcite veins running across the surface.
Grub has been used extensively for paving since the end of the 17th century. Swanage’s 19th century sea wall contains numerous pieces of Grub, demonstrating the durability of this stone. It also takes a fine polish and makes beautiful interior flooring; in 2025 Haysom Purbeck Stone have produced a new Grub floor for the nave, aisles and crossing of Salford Cathedral.
Recent Projects
- Display Cases, Jubilee Galleries, Westminster Abbey, London
- Rochester Cathedral, Kent
- Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire
- Clare College Cafe, Cambridge
- Richmond church
- Whitworth Art Gallery
- Cambridge University
- St Paul’s Cloister configuration seating and OBE chapel
- Windsor Castle
- Winchester College
- Canterbury Cathedral Education Centre
- Southwark Cathedral Refectory
- Salford Cathedral
Specification
| Sample Size | 100x100mm |
|---|---|
| Sample Surface Finish | honed (approx 220 grit) |
| Quarry Location | Purbeck, Dorset, England |
| Geology | Cretaceous Limestone |
| Colour | buff, light and dark brown, light and dark blue, grey |
| Polish Achievable | high |
| Applications | interior and exterior |
| BRE Data | available on request |