Clink Street, London

In May 2011, Giles Heap was contacted by landscape architects Witherford Watson Mann, who asked for assistance in specifying the repaving of several streets around London’s Southbank. When Giles saw the locations listed, he made an unexpected discovery: CED had supplied the original setts for these same streets almost 20 years earlier.

The brief from WWM‚ Southwark Council and English Heritage was simple. Make it old‚ make it smooth and make it look like it fits.

However, it quickly became clear that meeting the requirements for colour, size, finish and technical performance—especially in a busy, tourist-focused part of Shad Thames—would require thoughtful analysis and bespoke solutions.

Following extensive analysis on site‚ it was discovered that the existing setts were, in general‚ slightly narrower than the more common and traditional size of 4” wide. This meant that any new stone would not only need to match the historic colour palette of the original granites but also be manufactured to custom dimensions to ensure seamless integration.

To add to the difficulties in specifying the stone types for this scheme‚ it also became apparent during various discussions that the scheme had to take potentially reasonably high levels of vehicular traffic. This meant that we had to carefully consider the guidance from BS7533 and the use of proprietary mortars. Following a traffic survey and exploratory excavation to assess the existing sub-base, a technically sound compromise between sett width and depth was established.

Once we had this we were able to consider the technical attributes of various granites, and a blend of five carefully chosen colours, each 90mm wide by 150mm thick, supplied in five different lengths with roughened edges to achieve the desired aged appearance.

Work began in January 2012, with a critical deadline looming. Because this stretch of the Southbank was expected to be a major thoroughfare for spectators of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, the entire scheme needed to be completed by the end of March. Tight working conditions and the need to keep the roads open to the public demanded an efficient approach. To support this, CED supplied all setts pre-mixed in crates, with the exact ratios of colours and sizes pre-arranged. This significantly reduced the space required on-site and helped minimise disruption to the public.

The transformation to this historic part of Old London has been remarkable. What was once an accessibility challenge is now a welcoming, visually cohesive walkway, guiding visitors past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks—from The Golden Hind, past the ruins of Winchester Palace and The Clink Prison, through to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

CED Stone Group is extremely proud to have contributed once again to the evolving streetscape of London, helping shape both its heritage and its future.