Porphyry can only be quarried in a limited number of places around the world, with most of the stone found in Europe coming from the Trentino-Alto Region of North Italy. Porphyry is an ingenious rock which has been formed under intense heat and pressure creating an incredibly hard material that absorbs almost no water. This makes it ideal as a construction material especially for paving applications, as it is highly resistant to scratching and chemical damage.

Porphyry is an extremely varied material due tectonic activity during its formation, this results in a great colour range. Porphyry is best known for its purple tones but it is very common to find reds, greens, greys and many swirled patterns within the same material.

Above images shows the full spectrum of colours you can find in our Italian Porphyry Setts.

Since Romans times, Porphyry has been one of the most important varieties of stone used across Europe. Porphyry was an ideal material for paving Roman roads, including those that traversed the Alps and can be seen throughout the pavements of many major European cities to this very day. This popularity was mainly down to its low water absorption, making it resistant to damage from freeze / thaw cycles which results in material that can last for centuries if installed correctly, even in the UK’s changeable climate.

This superb product loved across the world has now been brought to the UK market by natural stone and timber, offering its customers and exclusive glimpse into the high-end paving products enjoyed across Europe for millennia. Our range has started with Italian Porphyry Setts which are widely used across Europe and have now just started to gain tractions in the UK market, as the superb properties of porphyry are becoming better known. Porphyry Setts will be available to view and collect from one of our branches across Hampshire and Dorset and available to purchase online for delivery throughout mainland UK.

If you are looking for a specific Porphyry products that we do not currently stock, please contact us to discuss your exact requirements, as we have access to a wide range of Porphyry products, including paving, setts of all sizes, fireplace surround, wall cladding etc, lead time on any special order products would be somewhere in the region of 6-8 weeks.