Listed among England's grandest country houses, Apethorpe Palace, built in the 15th century, holds an important place in English history because of its ownership by and role in entertaining Tudor and Stuart monarchs. The 80,000 square feet were enjoyed by Elizabeth 1st, who'd inherited it from King Henry VIII. For a time, Apethorpe was a royal palace lived in regularly by James 1st and Charles the 1st. Over the subsequent four hundred years, the property was bought and sold, each time falling further into disrepair and eventual abandonment.
Collyweston stone roofs are one of the most distinctive and familiar features of the historic towns and villages around the village of Collyweston in Northamptonshire, which gives its name to the stone from which they are made. Like a Cotswold stone roof, the Collyweston uses a split stone of various widths and lengths. Thicknesses of the stones range from .75" to 1.75". As with the Cotswold, stone production became commercially unviable in 1970, leaving a lack of supply of new stones today. Authentic natural quarried Collyweston slates are available in small quantities today but come with high costs and long lead times.
Heritage Stone
Similar in color and shape, our Heritage products offer a greener, more environmentally friendly alternative that, when installed, is virtually investigable from the ground. Cast from natural stones removed from a historic barn, our Heritage stone comes with the same variety and imperfections as natural stones.
Restorations
As part of its initial restoration, Apethorpe House received a section of new stone roofing in the early 2000s. Completed in phases, this project is a showcase for the incredible skills of the roofers and masons.
Hiding in our own backyard.
Due to its incredible weight and size, most Collyweston and Cotswold stone roofs were installed in the areas close to the quarry. Only the exceptionally wealthy could export stone for use outside of that local area. Old Westbury Gardens in Long Island, built-in 1906 and designed by Georg A Crawley, and The Edsal Ford House in Grosse Pointe, MI, constructed in 1920 and designed by Albert Kahn, are examples of two such homes.
Old Westbury Gardens
Edsel Ford House
Should you be interested in Charles II styles, Cotswold history, or stones from the region, feel free to reach out to our passionate experts at sales@cotswoldstoneroof.com