There is considerable academic and practical interest in stone and stone
buildings, as exemplified by the wide range of high-quality and
innovative work being conducted in the pursuit of the effective
preservation and restoration of historic buildings. This is reflected in
the numerous publications on stone and stone buildings that regularly
find their way into the public domain. Not least amongst these are a
number of Geological Society Special Publications, which have appeared
in recent years. This current volume seeks to bring to the attention of
the various professionals in the field (geologists, architects,
engineers, conservators and conservation scientists) recent work centred
on the characterization and performance of this important resource and
its use in historic buildings. The volume has wider relevance, including
to those interested in the heritage of stone.