Everyone loves the chocolate-box villages of the Cotswolds, and there is a good reason why they all have that warm golden hue to them – it’s called Cotswold stone.
Cotswold stone is a type of limestone that formed around 165 million years ago when the area was covered by a warm, shallow sea. Inside the stone are minute round grains which deposits a distinctive texture and that well-known honey colour.
A Building Tradition
Local stone, quarried from the surrounding hills had been used for centuries in constructing houses etc. This wasn’t simply convenient – this was required. In pre-modern transportation, there was simply no other choice than to utilise what was in the hills and large bodies of salt water. The end result is a landscape that blends seamlessly so as to look like buildings growing out of the ground. For Cotswolds Private Tours, visit Cotswold Tour.
The Colour That Changes
It has variation to it, the Cotswold stone isn’t one homogenous colour. It is found in various colours, from pale cream in the north to golden and honey shades farther south. Since the stone reflects light, it looks different during sunset than on overcast days when its glow cannot be as pronounced.
Built to Last
Cotswold stone is incredibly durable. Some structures are hundreds of years old. The stone weathers well and just forms a patina rather than deteriorating over time.
A Protected Landscape
Nowadays, the Cotswolds is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and very strict planning rules are in place to ensure that new builds conform with traditional materials and methods. It preserves the history and architecture that oftentimes makes you think how much better we used to be.
The next time you visit a Cotswolds village with Cotswolds Private Tours, just try to appreciate the old stone. It is not only beautiful but an actual link to millions of years of geological history and hundreds if not thousands of human years of construction.
