Ashford Black Marble originates from around Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire, UK. Despite its name, this rock is a fine grained, bio micrite limestone. A sedimentary rock, not a Metamorphic one. Ashford Black Marble has earned its reputation as an ornamental stone. When cut & polished it takes on a black glossy finish. It is Carboniferous in age & contains a large amount of bituminous material giving it a dark grey or black hue & a very distinctive hydrocarbon smell when struck with a hammer. Although it is no longer extracted, examples of the polished stone can be found in a pietra dura table top in Holy Trinity church in the village. Other notable examples can be seen in Chatsworth House & St. Peter’s church, Edensor. Available in a variety of sizes, each supplied in a labelled card tray.
