Puddingstone
Puddingstone (sometimes called plum-pudding stone or raisin-pudding stone) is a rock, typically a spotty, dark brown conglomerate that resembles a Christmas pudding. A conglomerate is a stone that is made up of very well-rounded pebbles that are bound together by a natural cementitious material. The colour of the stones is usually in sharp contrast to the colour of the sandy matrix in which they are set.
There are several different varieties of puddingstone with varying origins, composition and geographical distribution, such as those found in southern England, the US and Canada. The material has been used for building in the Home Counties (except Kent) for centuries.
Puddingstone typically comprises small, rounded stones of flint and sandstone, cemented together by a silica or iron oxide cement. It occurs in the London basin, Essex, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and some parts of Bedfordshire. It can sometimes feel very hard but some types are softer and can even be crumbled by hand. Puddingstone is therefore not regarded as a premium building stone. Nevertheless, it has been used for construction – mainly for churches – where nothing else was available or it was convenient to quarry.
Notable UK examples include the church at Chobham, Surrey; the tower of the parish church in Wokingham Berkshire; Beeleigh Abbey, Essex, and in some parts of Buckinghamshire, where it was used for the foundations of churches.
Puddingstone also occurs in the USA, such as in the Schunemunk mountain, Orange County, New York (where there is a 910m-thick bed), and also around Boston, as well as in Michigan and Ontario, Canada.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Choosing stone.
- Defects in stonework.
- Finding stone to conserve historic buildings.
- Inspecting stone sample panels.
- Kentish ragstone.
- Masonry.
- Modern Stonemasonry.
- Natural stone cladding.
- Natural stone.
- Portland Stone.
- Roof slates.
- Sourcing stone to repair Exeter Cathedral.
- Stone dressing.
- Types of stone.
Featured articles and news
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.