One of the earliest of manufactured stone was Coade stone, a fired ceramic created by Mrs Eleanor Coade (Elinor Coade, 1733-1821), and sold commercially from 1769 to 1833. Later, in 1844, Frederick Ransome created a Patent Siliceous Stone, which comprised sand and powdered flint in an alkaline solution.
Manufactured stone is a name for various kinds of synthetic stone products used from the 18th century through the early 21st century. They were used in building construction, civil engineering work, and industrial uses such as grindstones.
This was followed by Victoria stone, which comprises finely-crushed Mountsorrel (Leicestershire) granite and Portland cement, carefully mixed by machinery in the proportions of three to one and cast in moulds of the required shape. When the blocks are set hard the moulds are loosened and the blocks placed in a solution of silicate of soda for about two weeks for the purpose of indurating and hardening them. Many manufacturers turn out a material that is practically non-porous and is able effectually to resist the corroding influence of sea air or the impure atmosphere of large towns.
Most later types of manufactured stone have consisted of fine cement concrete placed to set in wooden or iron moulds. It could be made more cheaply and more uniform than natural stone, and was widely used. In engineering projects, it had the advantage that transporting the bulk materials and casting them near the place of use was cheaper than transporting very large pieces of stone.
Modern Manufactured stone is an architectural concrete building unit manufactured to simulate natural cut stone, used in unit masonry applications. Manufactured stone is a masonry product, used as an architectural feature, trim, ornament or facing for buildings or other structures. Manufactured stone can be made from white and/or grey cements, manufactured or natural sands, carefully selected crushed stone or well graded natural gravels and mineral coloring pigments to achieve the desired color and appearance while maintaining durable physical properties which exceed most natural cut building
stone veneer. Manufactured stone is an excellent replacement for natural cut limestone, brownstone, sandstone, bluestone, granite, slate, coral rock, travertine and other natural building stone veneers.
