The man behind the stone
Four decades of finding pieces worth keeping
Oliver has spent his working life walking the fields, farmyards, and forgotten corners of England in search of stone that deserves a second life.
How it all began
I grew up in the Yorkshire Dales, where stone isn't just a building material — it's the landscape itself. Dry stone walls, gate posts, troughs, lintels. Everything was built from what came out of the ground beneath your feet. That relationship between place and stone is something I've never been able to shake.
I started collecting in my twenties, almost by accident. A farmer near Skipton was clearing out an old yard and had a pair of gate posts he was going to break up. I offered him a few pounds for them, loaded them into the back of a borrowed Land Rover, and that was that. I was hooked.
Over the years, word got around. Other farmers, estate managers, demolition contractors — people started calling me when they had stone they didn't know what to do with. What began as a passion became a livelihood, and Set In Stone Reclamation grew from there.
How I work
"I won't sell a piece I can't tell you something about. Where it came from, how old it is, what it was used for. That provenance matters."
Every piece that comes through Set In Stone Reclamation has been chosen by hand. I don't buy in bulk or deal in anything I haven't personally inspected. If I don't know the story of a piece, I won't sell it.
I work with a small network of farmers, estate managers, and architectural salvage contacts built up over forty years. Most of what I find never gets advertised — it goes to people who've been in touch and know what they're looking for. If you're after something specific, it's always worth a conversation.
I'm based in the Yorkshire Dales but travel widely across the north of England and beyond. If you have stone you're looking to sell, or you're searching for something particular, ring me directly. I'd rather talk than exchange emails.
What I specialise in
Stone Gate Posts
From simple farm posts to grand estate pillars with carved finials and chamfered detail. I know the difference between a good post and a great one.
Antique Troughs
Feeding troughs, water troughs, and planters in limestone, sandstone, and gritstone. Age, patina, and provenance are everything.
Walling Stone
Reclaimed limestone, sandstone, and gritstone for garden walls, raised beds, and restoration projects. Matched to your existing stone where possible.
Unique & Architectural Pieces
Carved stonework, millstones, staddle stones, architectural fragments. The pieces that stop you in your tracks and that you'll never find in a catalogue.
Get in touch
Whether you're looking for something specific or simply want to know what's currently available, I'm always happy to talk.