Developing a future repairs strategy for a sandstone city: A petrographic investigation of building stone in Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, and has some of the finest historic stone architecture in the United Kingdom. All the building stone quarries in the Glasgow area are closed and stone for repairs is now imported. Six types of ‘blonde’ sandstone and four types of ‘red’ sandstone have been identified from petrographic analysis of 126 samples from traditional buildings throughout the city. Currently available stone types from active quarries have been identified which have similar characteristics, in order to ensure compatibility of long-term performance for repairs. A number of the original sandstone types do not match with stone currently being quarried, and there is a need to reopen historic quarries, or new quarries which can supply similar stone. The data provide a framework to improve decision-making in the selection of appropriate stone for repairs to ensure the future long-term health of historic buildings in the city of Glasgow.