Blaxter Sandstone

Blaxter Sandstone, quarried near Otterburn in Northumberland, is a fine-grained, honey-colored stone that has been extracted since the 1890s. Renowned for its quality, this sandstone has graced numerous prestigious buildings over the years.

In Newcastle, Blaxter Sandstone has contributed to the grandeur of iconic structures such as the City Hall, the Postal Sorting Office, and the Royal Grammar School, among many others. Its appeal extends to Edinburgh, where it has been utilized in prominent buildings like the Scottish and Newcastle Breweries head office on Holyrood Road and the Standard Life Assurance Building on George Street.

In recent years, Blaxter Sandstone has experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Edinburgh, where it has been integral to the restoration of historical buildings. Notable projects include the refurbishment of Jenners Store on Princess Street and the construction of the Holyrood Hotel. In Newcastle, Blaxter Sandstone has been prominently featured in the redevelopment of the Quayside. Additionally, it has been used in the restoration of the Library and Castle adjacent to the Palace Green in Durham, as well as in the construction of the Reg Vardy Head Office building in Sunderland.

Blaxter Sandstone stands out as a large quarry with ample reserves, ensuring its availability for future projects.

Test Results – Blaxter Sandstone
Safety in Use
Slip Resistance (Note 1) Wet 79
Values > 40 are considered safe.
Values <23.0 are considered suitable for use in heavily trafficked areas
Strength under load
1) Compression(Note 2) 55.1 MPa (38 – 55 range)
Loaded perpendicular to the bedding plane ambient humidity 36 MPa
Loaded perpendicular to the bedding , wet (Note 5)
2) Bending (Note 1) 3.1 MPa
Loaded perpendicular to the bedding plane ambient humidity 2.7 MPa
Loaded parallel to the bedding plane ambient humidity
Porosity and Water Absorption
1) Porosity (Note 3) 20.5%
2) Saturation Coefficient (Note 3) 0.63 (0.59 – 0.63 range)
3) Water Absorption 6.1 % (by wt)
4) Bulk specific gravity 2110 kg/m3
Resistance to Frost
Flexural strength after Freeze/Thaw Test (Note 1) 2.0 MPa
Loaded perpendicular to the bedding plane ambient humidity
Resistance to Salt
Sodium Sulphate Crystallisation Test (Note 3) -0.70% Mean wt loss
Resistance to Acidity
Acid Immersion Test(Note 4) Pass
(Test methods

Note 1 = EN1341,

Note 2 = En 1342,

Note 3 = En 1341 /BRE 141,

Note 4 = BRE 141,

Note 5 = ASTM)

DECLARATION OF PERFORMANCE

To BS EN 771-6-2011 Natural Stone Masonry Units

Resistance to Fire...Class A1

Shear Bond Strength...Fixed Value

Apparent Density ...(Kg/m³)2143

Open Porosity ... (%)18.63

Water Absorpotion ...(g/m.sec²)98.2

Compressive Strength ...(Mpa)36

Flexural Strength ...(Mpa)3.8

Frost Resistance ...(Cycles)84

Thermal Conductivity...NPD