The Language of Stone in Retrospect

Geology and architecture at St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall

Living in London and working in the specialist building restoration industry, it seemed natural to apply my degree in geology to the problems of identifying and matching building stones, which would satisfy an architect's specification to “match the existing”.

The Triton Stone Library

Apart from the very occasional trip to the south coast, when I was mainly interested in developing my photographic skills, it was only when I moved to the north of England that I began to take an interest in geology in its more traditional form – surveying various natural landforms and quarries in South Yorkshire, the Peak District National Park and further afield in the Republic of Ireland.

Luxullianite - one of a pair of bookends made of this rare granite

Although my interests in geological conservation had led to my subsequent involvement with museums, local history and conservation societies and the Workers Educational Association, for whom I gave illustrated talks and led various walks, it was when working for the Geological Survey of Ireland that I discovered the concept of Geotourism – especially since this coincided with a newfound interest in teaching English as a foreign language and the development of links with similarly minded professionals in Spain and Italy.

A pair of lizards in Fanano

With this in mind, albeit limited to travel by public transport, I have spent the last 3 years visiting a wide variety of places that I think would be of interest to tourists that share my interest in geology, ancient monuments, historic buildings, museums and art – in essence, the kind of things that I like to see when on holiday abroad and having the theme of 'stone' as a common denominator.

A view from the edge of the caldera on Santorini

Having reached the point where I made a very rare trip to London for pleasure, specifically to see the Tower of London but encountering the church of All Hallows by the Tower and Westminster Abbey along the way, I unexpectedly visited London again a few weeks later. This time I was based in the south-east suburb of West Wickham, from which I could easily reach Chislehurst Caves – a place that I first visited nearly 50 years ago.

Chislehurst Caves