FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
type: ConceptScheme
issued: 2026-02-09
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: England
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
description: Terminology used for recording the main construction materials of monuments, buildings and structures relating to the built and buried heritage of the British Isles. Maintained by Historic England on behalf of the FISH Terminology Working Group
has top concept: Animal
has top concept: Earth Mix
has top concept: Man Made Material
has top concept: Material <By Form>
has top concept: Metal
has top concept: Mineral
has top concept: Stone
has top concept: Textile
has top concept: Vegetal

Shap Granite
type: Concept
alternative label: Adamelite
broader: Granite
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, coarse grained, grey to red/brown coloured granite. Used predominantly for tombstones becasuse of its ability to take a polish, but it is also in demand for underwater construction.

Gneiss
type: Concept
alternative label: Alps Grey Granite
alternative label: Ematita Granite
alternative label: Madreperla
alternative label: Verde Ematita
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Granite
scope note: Coarse grained, metamorphic rock in which the colour is dependent upon the predominant mineral.

Schist
type: Concept
alternative label: Alta Quartzite
alternative label: Altazite
alternative label: Barge Quartzite
alternative label: Italian Quartzite
alternative label: Otta Slate
alternative label: Pillaguri Slate
alternative label: Rembrandt Stone
alternative label: Sanfront Stone
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Medium to coarse grained metamorphic rock, colour being determined by its dominant mineral. Often used for floor and wall cladding.

Chalk
type: Concept
alternative label: Amberley Stone
narrower: Beer Stone
narrower: Clunch
broader: Cretaceous Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A soft, porous, white to light grey coloured limestone.

Beer Stone
type: Concept
broader: Chalk
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Coarse, hard Chalkstone, light grey to white coloured, containing shell fragments.

Clunch
type: Concept
alternative label: Burwell Stone
alternative label: Totternhoe Stone
broader: Chalk
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A hard, gritty, grey/green coloured form of chalk.

Fossil
type: Concept
alternative label: Ammonite
broader: Animal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Mineral
related: Stone
scope note: The remains of living organisms preserved in stone over a long time period. This may be the internal or external moulds of, usually, the hard parts of an organism (shells, bones, etc.).

Lincolnshire Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Ancaster Stone
alternative label: Barnack Stone
alternative label: Casterton Stone
alternative label: Clipsham Stone
alternative label: Collyweston Slate
alternative label: Cosgrove Stone
alternative label: Freebed
alternative label: Hardwhite
alternative label: Ketton Stone
alternative label: Stamford Stone
alternative label: Weatherbed
alternative label: Weldon Stone
broader: Oolitic Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Generic term for the oolitic limestones quarried in Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Rutland. Varying in grain size from medium to coarse, and colour from cream to pale brown.

Magnesian Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Anston Stone
alternative label: Bolsover Moor
alternative label: Huddlestone Stone
alternative label: Mansfield Woodhouse Stone
alternative label: Roche Abbey Stone
alternative label: Steetly Stone
alternative label: Tadcaster Stone
broader: Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Dolomite
scope note: Permian limestones which have had their chemical composition naturally altered with the calcium content being replaced by magnesium. Fine grained and varying from yellow/brown to cream in colour, although they weather to a dark grey.

Carrara Marble
type: Concept
alternative label: Arabescato Marble
alternative label: Bardiglio Marble
alternative label: Cipollino Marble
alternative label: Pavonazzo
broader: Marble
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Imported Italian marble varying in colour from green, blue, purple to white.

Artificial Slate
type: Concept
alternative label: Asbestos Slate
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A rectangular sheet of roofing material created by a man made process (eg. asbestos cement slate) and made to look like, and used in the same way as, natural slate.

Asbestos
type: Concept
alternative label: Asbestos Slate
alternative label: Corrugated Asbestos
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A mineral crystal of thin, tough fibres which can be woven. Used for high temperature insulation or as reinforcement in asbestos cement building board and corrugated roofing. If used to imitate slate, use artificial slate also.

Devonian Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Ashburton Marble
alternative label: Chudleigh Stone
alternative label: Plymouth Limestone
alternative label: Plymouth Stone
alternative label: Torquay Limestone
alternative label: Torquay Marble
broader: Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Limestone formed during the Devonian period, and found predominantly between the Exe and Tamar rivers in Devon. Varying in colour from black/grey to pink/white it was often polished to imitate, and be used as, marble.

Marble
type: Concept
alternative label: Ashburton Marble
alternative label: Australian Marble
alternative label: Bethersden Marble
alternative label: Bletchingdon Marble
alternative label: Breche Rose
alternative label: Charlwood Stone
alternative label: Devon Marble
alternative label: Dundee Marble
alternative label: Forest Marble
alternative label: Frosterley Marble
alternative label: Istrian Stone
alternative label: Jaune Lamartine
alternative label: Large Paludina Marble
alternative label: Laughton Marble
alternative label: Parian Marble
alternative label: Pennon Marble
alternative label: Pentelic Marble
alternative label: Petworth Marble
alternative label: Pink Verona Marble
alternative label: Purbeck Marble
alternative label: Sicilian Marble
alternative label: Skyros Marble
alternative label: Small Paludina Marble
alternative label: Sussex Marble
alternative label: Teesdale Marble
alternative label: Tinos
alternative label: Torquay Marble
alternative label: Travertine
alternative label: Verde Antico
alternative label: Verde Fraye
alternative label: Verona Marble
alternative label: Yeovil Marble
narrower: Campan Marble
narrower: Carrara Marble
narrower: Connemara Marble
narrower: Iona Marble
narrower: Skye Marble
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Alabaster
related: Carboniferous Limestone
related: Limestone
related: Polyphant
related: Purbeck Stone
related: Scagliola
scope note: Collective name for, in a true geological sense, a metamorphosed limestone, eg. Carrara marble, and, in the British sense any decorative stone that will take a polish, eg. Purbeck marble. In the latter's case index with specific stone type where given.

Campan Marble
type: Concept
alternative label: Campan Melange
alternative label: Campan Rose
alternative label: Campan Vert
broader: Marble
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: White coloured marble. Imported from France.

Iona Marble
type: Concept
broader: Marble
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: One of only three 'true' British marbles, pale green and white in colour.

Skye Marble
type: Concept
broader: Marble
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: One of only three 'true' British marbles, white in colour, predominantly used for sculptures and statues.

Sandstone
type: Concept
alternative label: Auchinlea Stone
alternative label: Blaxter Stone
alternative label: Bramley Fall Stone
alternative label: Britannia Stone
alternative label: Bunter Stone
alternative label: Caerbwdy Stone
alternative label: Caithness Flagstone
alternative label: Cardeston Stone
alternative label: Chatwell Stone
alternative label: Clashach Stone
alternative label: Corsehill Stone
alternative label: Coxbench Sandstone
alternative label: Craigleith Stone
alternative label: Culm Measures Stone
alternative label: Culm Stone
alternative label: Cumberland Stone
alternative label: Darney Stone
alternative label: Davie Blocks Stone
alternative label: Delph Stone
alternative label: Derbyshire Stone
alternative label: Doddington Stone
alternative label: Dunhouse Stone
alternative label: Dunston Stone
alternative label: Forest Of Dean Stone
alternative label: Forest Stone (Gloucestershire)
alternative label: Foxs Wood Rubble
alternative label: Green Brae Stone
alternative label: Greensand Stone
alternative label: Grinshill Stone
alternative label: Hailes Stone
alternative label: Hatherleigh Stone
alternative label: Heavitree Stone
alternative label: Hollington Stone
alternative label: Kerridge Stone
alternative label: Keuper Stone
alternative label: Ladycross Stone
alternative label: Lane Head Stone
alternative label: Lazonby Red Sandstone
alternative label: Locharbriggs Stone
alternative label: Lower Greensand
alternative label: Mansfield Stone
alternative label: Moulton Stone
alternative label: Pencaemaur Stone
alternative label: Penrith Red Sandstone
alternative label: Penshaw Sandstone
alternative label: Permian Sandstone
alternative label: Prudham Stone
alternative label: Rainhill Stone
alternative label: Rainow Stone
alternative label: Rassau Stone
alternative label: Red Wilderness Stone
alternative label: Ringby Stone
alternative label: Rose Brae Stone
alternative label: Salcombe Stone
alternative label: Soudley Stone
narrower: Bargate Stone
narrower: Carstone
narrower: Firestone
narrower: Gritstone (Sandstone)
narrower: Malmstone
narrower: Pennant Stone
narrower: Reigate Stone
narrower: Sarsen Stone
narrower: Sussex Stone
narrower: York Stone
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Carboniferous Limestone
related: Ironstone
related: Lias
related: Shale
scope note: Geologically sandstone consists of particles of quartz naturally cemented together by either silica, calcium or iron. It is this geological composition that accounts for the varying colours and grain sizes found in the many building sandstones.

Bargate Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Burgate Stone
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, coarse grained, calcareous sandstone, coloured by iron oxide. Quarried in the Guildford and Godalming area of the South East.

Gritstone (Sandstone)
type: Concept
alternative label: Birchover Stone
alternative label: Birshover Gritstone
alternative label: Chinley Moor Stone
alternative label: Darley Dale Stone
alternative label: Derbyshire Grit Stone
alternative label: Hall Dale Stone
alternative label: Matlock Stone
alternative label: Millstone Grit
alternative label: Revidge Grit
alternative label: Stancliffe Stone
alternative label: Watts Cliff Stone
alternative label: Wattscliffe Stone
alternative label: Whatstandwell Stone
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Carboniferous sandstone varying in grain size from coarse to fine and in colour from white, yellow, pink to brown. When only Gritstone is mentioned, unless otherwise specified, assume it to be Gritstone (Sandstone), as this is the more common usage.

Pennant Stone
type: Concept
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, fine grained, blue/grey coloured sandstone. Quarried in South Wales and the Bristol area and commonly used, throughout the country, as a stone roofing material (stone slate).

York Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Bolton Wood Stone
alternative label: Crosland Hill Stone
alternative label: Elland Edge Flagrock
alternative label: Elland Edge Stone
alternative label: Greenmoor Stone
alternative label: Hard Rock
alternative label: Hard York
alternative label: Hard York Freestone
alternative label: Woodkirk Stone
alternative label: Yorkshire Flagstone
alternative label: Yorkshire Stone
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Generic name for the fine grained, brown coloured carboniferous sandstone, quarried in the Leeds, Bradford and Halifax area.

Scottish Slate
type: Concept
alternative label: Ballachulish Slate
alternative label: Scotch Slate
broader: Slate
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Forest Stone (Leicestershire)
scope note: Collective term for the Scottish Slates including the Aberdeen/Baniff and Ballachulish/Easdale groups. Fine grained, varying in colour from brown to dark grey/blue. Geologically different from Lake District, Welsh and West Country groups of slate.

Aberdeen Granite
type: Concept
alternative label: Balmoral Granite
alternative label: Rubislaw Granite
broader: Granite
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Medium grained, dark bluish-grey stone. Quarried mainly from the Rubislaw Quarry.

Portland Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Base Bed
alternative label: Basebed
alternative label: Chilmark Stone
alternative label: Portland Roach
alternative label: Ridgeway Stone
alternative label: Roach Stone
alternative label: Tisbury Stone
alternative label: Whit Bed
alternative label: Whitbed
broader: Oolitic Limestone
narrower: Purbeck Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Fine to coarse grained, cream to green/grey coloured oolitic limestone. Quarried since Roman times, it is one of Britain's best building stones, hence its use throughout the country.

Carboniferous Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Battscombe Stone
alternative label: Cheddar Stone
alternative label: Deepdale Fossil
alternative label: Derbydene
alternative label: Derbyshire Fossil
alternative label: Dukes Red Limestone
alternative label: Frosterley Marble
alternative label: Hadene Stone
alternative label: Hoptons Wood Stone
alternative label: Orton Scar Limestone
alternative label: Penmon Limestone
alternative label: Pennon Marble
alternative label: Salterwath
alternative label: Swaledale Fossil
broader: Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Shale
related: Sandstone
related: Marble
scope note: Limestones formed during the Carboniferous period. Many are cut, polished and used as marble.

Granite
type: Concept
alternative label: Baveno Granite
alternative label: Biotite Granite
alternative label: Bon Accord Red Granite
alternative label: Channel Isle Granite
alternative label: Cornish Granite
alternative label: Correnie Granite
alternative label: Devon Granite
alternative label: Drewsteignston Stone
alternative label: Dundee Marble
alternative label: Dunleary Stone
alternative label: Granolithic Concrete
alternative label: Graphic Granite
alternative label: Grey Royal Granite
alternative label: Hornblende Granite
alternative label: Imperial Mahogany
alternative label: Isle Of Man Granite
alternative label: Kemnay Granite
alternative label: Muscovite Granite
alternative label: Newham Stone
alternative label: Pink Granite
alternative label: Raddon Stone
alternative label: Rose Swede Granite
alternative label: Ross Of Mull Granite
alternative label: Scotch Granite
alternative label: Scottish Granite
alternative label: Virgo Granite
narrower: Aberdeen Granite
narrower: Moorstone
narrower: Mountsorrel Granite
narrower: Peterhead Granite
narrower: Shap Granite
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Elvan
related: Gneiss
related: Greenstone
related: Porphyry
scope note: A hard, coarse grained, durable igneous rock. Can be used decoratively or as a main material. Found throughout the country.

Mountsorrel Granite
type: Concept
alternative label: Mount Sorrel Granite
alternative label: Mountsorrel Stone
broader: Granite
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Very hard, rough medium/coarse grained, pink to grey coloured granite. Usually found and quarried in Leicestershire.

Peterhead Granite
type: Concept
alternative label: Blue Peterhead Granite
broader: Granite
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Coarse grained, dark coloured granite, quarried in the Peterhead and Cairngall areas of Scotland, but used throughout the North.

Bembridge Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Bembridge Stone
alternative label: Binstead Stone
alternative label: Isle Of Wight Stone
alternative label: Quarr Stone
broader: Tertiary Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Generic name for the hard, white/cream coloured, freshwater limestone. Quarried on the Isle of Wight.

Welsh Slate
type: Concept
alternative label: Berwyn Slate
alternative label: Blue Grey Slate
alternative label: Blue Welsh Slate
alternative label: Penrhyn Slate
broader: Slate
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Shale
scope note: Collective term for the North and South Wales groups of slate. Hard, fine grained, metamorphic rock, with varying dark shades.

Cretaceous Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Bethersden Marble
alternative label: Charlwood Stone
alternative label: Istrian Stone
alternative label: Large Paludina Marble
alternative label: Laughton Marble
alternative label: Laughton Stone
alternative label: Petworth Marble
alternative label: Small Paludina Marble
alternative label: Sussex Marble
narrower: Caen Stone
narrower: Chalk
narrower: Kentish Ragstone
broader: Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Sussex Stone
scope note: Limestone formed during the Cretaceous period.

Caen Stone
type: Concept
broader: Cretaceous Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Fine grained limestone, yellow or yellow/white in colour. Imported from France, mainly for ecclesiastical use.

Kentish Ragstone
type: Concept
alternative label: Kentish Rag
alternative label: Tonbridge Stone
broader: Cretaceous Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Sandy, rough blue to green/grey coloured limestone. Quarried in Kent and widely used throughout the South East.

Diorite
type: Concept
alternative label: Black Granite
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Coarse grained, dark coloured, igneous rock.

Cotswold Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Bladon Cotswold Stone
alternative label: Cotswold Slate
alternative label: Guiting Stone
alternative label: Stanway Stone
broader: Oolitic Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Sandy, light brown (cream to golden) coloured limestone, easily worked and readily available.

Jurassic Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Bletchingdon Marble
alternative label: Forest Marble
alternative label: Hovingham Stone
alternative label: Pink Verona Marble
alternative label: Verde Fraye
alternative label: Verona Marble
alternative label: Walling Stone
alternative label: Yeovil Marble
narrower: Gritstone (Limestone)
narrower: Lias
narrower: Oolitic Limestone
broader: Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Limestone formed during the Jurassic period. Provides many widely used building stones.

Gritstone (Limestone)
type: Concept
broader: Jurassic Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Specific English quarryman's term for any limestone abundant in shell fragments. Use this term with care. When only Gritstone is mentioned, unless otherwise specified, assume it to be Gritstone (Sandstone), since this is the most common usage.

West Country Slate
type: Concept
alternative label: Bluestone
alternative label: Cornish Rustic
alternative label: Cornish Slate
alternative label: Delabole Slate
alternative label: Devon Slate
alternative label: Mill Hill Slate
alternative label: Tintagel Stone
alternative label: Trebarwith Rustic Slate
alternative label: Trecarne Rustic Slate
alternative label: Tredinnick Rustic Slate
broader: Slate
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Shale
scope note: Collective term for the slates from Devon and Cornwall. Hard, fine grained metamorphic rock. Varying in colour from dark grey/green to blueish/grey. West Country Slate is geologically different from both Lake District and Welsh Slate.

Sussex Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Bognor Rock
alternative label: Calverley Stone
alternative label: Midhurst Stone
alternative label: Pulborough Stone
alternative label: Tunbridge Wells Stone
narrower: Horsham Stone
narrower: Wealden Stone
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Cretaceous Limestone
scope note: Fine grained, buff, brown to green coloured Cretaceous sandstone. Quarried at various locations in Sussex. Not to be confused with Sussex marble which is a cretaceous limestone.

Horsham Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Horsham Slab
broader: Sussex Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, fissile sandstone which weathers to a dark brown colour. Mainly used as a stone roofing material (stone slate) throughout Sussex and Surrey.

Wealden Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Weald Stone
broader: Sussex Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Fine grained, brown/yellow to dark grey coloured cretaceous sandstone. It is a particularly good freestone and was often used for ashlar finishes.

Lake District Slate
type: Concept
alternative label: Borrowdale Slate
alternative label: Brathay Slate
alternative label: Broughton Moor Slate
alternative label: Burlington Blue Grey
alternative label: Burlington Slate
alternative label: Bursting Stone
alternative label: Buttermere Slate
alternative label: Cobble Stone
alternative label: Elterwater Slate
alternative label: Kirkstone Green
alternative label: Lakeland Green
alternative label: Moss Rigg Slate
alternative label: Skiddaw Slate
alternative label: Spoutcrag
alternative label: Westmoorland Green
alternative label: Westmoorland Slate
alternative label: Greenslate
broader: Slate
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Shale
scope note: Collective term for the Burlington (Silurian period) and Borrowdale (Ordovician period) groups of slates from the Lake District and parts of Cumbria, Lancashire. Hard, fine grained metamorphic rock, varying in colour from green/olive to black/blue black.

Bath Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Box Ground
alternative label: Box Rubblestone
alternative label: Bradford Stone
alternative label: Combe Down Stone
alternative label: Corsham Stone
alternative label: Hartham Park Stone
alternative label: Hazlebury Stone
alternative label: Monks Park Stone
alternative label: St Aldhelm Stone
alternative label: Stoke Ground Stone
alternative label: Westwood Stone
alternative label: Winsley Ground
broader: Oolitic Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Even grained, poorly fossiliferous, light brown/cream coloured, oolitic limestone. Quarried in the Bath area.

Artificial Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Bradstone
alternative label: Empire Stone
alternative label: Imitation Stone
broader: Man Made Material
narrower: Coade Stone
narrower: Pulhamite Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Stone
related: Scagliola
scope note: Synthetically manufactured stone made from natural stone aggregate or reconstituted ceramics or clay, and made to appear natural. Used as solid stone for masonry or for sculptural and architectural ornament.

Coade Stone
type: Concept
broader: Artificial Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Durable artificial stone consisting of china clay, sand and finely ground stoneware cast from moulds and fired in a kiln. Commonly used for architectural ornament and facings.

Pulhamite Stone
type: Concept
broader: Artificial Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A patented manmade rock invented by James Pulham and Son of Broxbourne. Pulhamite was used to join natural rocks together or crafted to simulate natural stone features. It is an artificial form of sandstone.

Conglomerate
type: Concept
alternative label: Brandon Hill Grit Rubble
alternative label: Dolomitic Conglomerate
broader: Stone
narrower: Puddingstone
narrower: Septaria
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Breccia
scope note: Sedimentary rock consisting of rounded pebbles naturally cemented together.

Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Calcareous Spar
alternative label: Devon Marble
alternative label: Membury Stone
alternative label: Moolham Stone
alternative label: Todber Stone
narrower: Carboniferous Limestone
narrower: Cretaceous Limestone
narrower: Devonian Limestone
narrower: Jurassic Limestone
narrower: Magnesian Limestone
narrower: Tertiary Limestone
narrower: Tufaceous Limestone
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Shale
related: Marble
related: Reigate Stone
related: Malmstone
scope note: Sedimentary rock consisting mainly of calcium carbonate. Varying in grain size, colour and hardness, quarried and used throughout the country.

Tufaceous Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Travertine
alternative label: Tufa
broader: Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Very light, depositional limestone formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate rich water (Tufa). The more dense and compact form, Travertine, is formed in a similar way.

Oolitic Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Campden Stone
alternative label: Cary Stone
alternative label: Charlbury Stone
alternative label: Coral Rag Limestone
alternative label: Cornbrash Limestone
alternative label: Doulting Stone
alternative label: Dundry Stone
alternative label: Headington Stone
alternative label: Oxford Stone
alternative label: Painswick Stone
alternative label: Stonesfield Slate
alternative label: Taynton Stone
alternative label: Wheatley Stone
alternative label: Oolite
narrower: Bath Stone
narrower: Cotswold Stone
narrower: Lincolnshire Limestone
narrower: Portland Stone
broader: Jurassic Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Ironstone
scope note: Limestone formed during the Jurassic period. Composed of ooliths, literally small rock particles with the appearance of fish roe.

Carstone
type: Concept
alternative label: Car Stone
alternative label: Ginger Bread Stone
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Ironstone
scope note: Coarse hard sandstone often coloured with iron oxide creating its characteristic brown shades.

Elvan
type: Concept
alternative label: Catacleuse
alternative label: Growan
alternative label: Pentewan Stone
alternative label: Trerice Porphry
alternative label: Trerice Stone
broader: Porphyry
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Granite
scope note: Miner's term for fine grained, often light grey/fawn coloured porphyritic rocks. Commonly found in Devon and Cornwall.

Cement
type: Concept
alternative label: Cement Render
alternative label: Cement Tile
alternative label: Whitby Cement
broader: Cement Mix
narrower: Portland Cement
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Sand
related: Concrete
related: Mortar
related: Slurry
related: Woodwool Slab
related: Lime
scope note: Originally obtained by burning limestone to produce quicklime. Now a fine grey powder made from a mixture of limestone and clay used with water and sand to make mortar or with water, sand and aggregate to make concrete.

Portland Cement
type: Concept
broader: Cement
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A form of cement originally named since it was said to be like Portland Stone in appearance.

Render
type: Concept
alternative label: Cement Render
alternative label: Tyrolean
narrower: Pebbledash
narrower: Plaster
narrower: Roughcast
narrower: Stucco
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A general term for the weatherproof coat on the external walls of a building.

Roughcast
type: Concept
broader: Render
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A render including an aggregate of gravel or stone chipping thrown rather than trowelled onto an external wall.

Stucco
type: Concept
broader: Render
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Smooth rendering applied to the exterior of buildings which may be incised to suggest coursed masonry. Made of lime and sand or brick dust, and more recently, cement.

Tile
type: Concept
alternative label: Cement Tile
alternative label: Clay Tile
alternative label: Concrete Tile
narrower: Encaustic Tile
narrower: Mathematical Tile
narrower: Pantile
narrower: Roman Tile
narrower: Shingle
narrower: Spanish Tile
narrower: Double Roman Tile
narrower: Triple Roman Tile
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Ceramic
related: Clay
related: Concrete
related: Faience
related: Shingle
related: Terracotta
scope note: Tablet of a uniform shape. Used as finishing or covering materials which fit together in a regular format.

Encaustic Tile
type: Concept
broader: Tile
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Glazed and decorated, patterned earthenware tile combining different coloured clays which are inlaid and burnt in. Mainly used for flooring and external decoration.

Roman Tile
type: Concept
alternative label: Single Roman Tile
broader: Tile
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Single lap regular shaped roof covering which can have one or more water channels. Typically made of clay or concrete. The name does not denote a relationship with the Roman period.

Spanish Tile
type: Concept
broader: Tile
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Single lap roof covering made of clay. Half cylinder in profile although one end is slightly wider than the other. A Spanish tile roof covering comprises under-tiles and over-tiles, the two have the same shape, but the under-tile is slightly larger.

Double Roman Tile
type: Concept
broader: Tile
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A large rectangle roof tile with an upstand on one side, a roll in the centre and another roll on the other side, which fits over the upstand of the adjacent tile. The name does not denote a relationship with the Roman period.

Triple Roman Tile
type: Concept
broader: Tile
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A large rectangle roof tile in the form of an upstand on one side followed by three rolls, the last of which fits over the upstand of the adjacent tile. The name does not denote a relationship with the Roman period.

Forest Stone (Leicestershire)
type: Concept
alternative label: Charnwood Stone
alternative label: Swithland Slate
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Syenite
related: Porphyry
related: Slate
related: Scottish Slate
scope note: Collective name for a series of rocks (granite, syenite, porphry and slate) found in the Charnwood Forest of Leicestershire. Index with specific stone type where given.

Clay
type: Concept
alternative label: Clay Tile
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Brick
related: Ceramic
related: Lias
related: Tile
related: Pantile
scope note: A fine grained earth which becomes more plastic when water is added and can be moulded and dried to make bricks, tile, pottery, etc.

Cob
type: Concept
alternative label: Clob
broader: Earth Mix
narrower: Wichert
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Walls composed of clay, earth, straw, lime and sand, mixed with water. Constructed without shutters in layers upon a stone or brick plinth and usually covered with protective limewash.

Wichert
type: Concept
broader: Cob
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Cob type construction typical to Buckinghamshire using a local clay with a high chalk content to produce walls of notable inherent stability.

Concrete
type: Concept
alternative label: Concrete Block
alternative label: Concrete Tile
alternative label: Granolithic Concrete
narrower: Breeze Block
narrower: Lightweight Concrete
narrower: Prestressed Concrete
narrower: Reinforced Concrete
broader: Cement Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Cement
related: Sand
related: Tile
related: Pantile
scope note: Composed of sand, stones or other aggregate and cement mixed with water which sets in a hard mass. The material is usually associated with modern building but was developed by Romans where cement was obtained from quicklime.

Lightweight Concrete
type: Concept
broader: Concrete
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A concrete which is either aerated or made from lightweight aggregate.

Prestressed Concrete
type: Concept
broader: Concrete
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Concrete, containing bars or wires, which is compressed to greatly increase its strength.

Weathering Steel
type: Concept
alternative label: Cor Ten Steel
broader: Steel
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: An alloy of steel.

Tertiary Limestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Coralline Crag
alternative label: Istrian Stone
narrower: Bembridge Limestone
broader: Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, fossil rich, white to deep red coloured limestone, laid down during the Tertiary period. Used since Roman times because of its good durability and weathering properties.

Purbeck Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Corfe Stone
alternative label: Langton Freestone
alternative label: Purbeck Marble
alternative label: Purbeck Portland
alternative label: Swanage Stone
broader: Portland Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Marble
scope note: Collective name for the oolitic limestone quarried in the Isle of Purbeck region, geologically classified into two main groups. Firstly, a fine grained whitish variety, Purbeck Portland, secondly a fossil-rich cream/gold to grey variety, Swanage Stone etc

Aluminium
type: Concept
alternative label: Corrugated Aluminium
broader: Metal
narrower: Anodized Aluminium
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Lightweight, strong metal with good corrosive resistance, normally used as an alloy.

Anodized Aluminium
type: Concept
broader: Aluminium
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Aluminium coated by a protective film of oxides created by electrolysis.

Iron
type: Concept
alternative label: Corrugated Iron
narrower: Cast Iron
narrower: Wrought Iron
narrower: Galvanized Iron
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A malleable, ductile ferromagnetic metal widely used for structural and decorative purposes.

Cast Iron
type: Concept
broader: Iron
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Dating from the 15th century, it is a hard alloy of iron and carbon, melted and shaped into various moulded forms.

Wrought Iron
type: Concept
broader: Iron
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: The oldest form of iron, it is a tough, pure form of iron that can be fashioned into decorative items or shapes by hammering, squeezing or rolling.

Galvanized Iron
type: Concept
alternative label: Galvanised Iron
broader: Iron
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Iron coated in zinc, giving good protection against weathering.

Timber
type: Concept
alternative label: Deal
narrower: Lath
narrower: Shingle
narrower: Wattle
narrower: Weatherboard
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Shingle
related: Wood
scope note: Wood, cut and seasoned so forming or capable of forming any part of a structure. May be treated with preservative before use.

Quartzite
type: Concept
alternative label: Diamanzite
alternative label: Safari Quartzite
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Quartz
scope note: Medium grained, hard, white/grey coloured stone consisting of quartz and often silica, produced by the metamorphosis of sandstone.

Dolomite
type: Concept
alternative label: Dolomitic Conglomerate
broader: Mineral
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Magnesian Limestone
scope note: Soft, often white, but may be transparent. Dolomite can be found on its own, but may also occur as a replacement mineral found in some rocks, particularly limestone, formed after action by magnesium-rich fluids.

Textile
type: Concept
alternative label: Fabric
narrower: Felt
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A woven or bonded fabric or cloth. See TEXTILE Class List for narrow terms.
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Felt
type: Concept
broader: Textile
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Fabric of fibrous materials consolidated by heat and mechanical action so that the fibres are matted together.

Brick
type: Concept
alternative label: Fletton Brick
alternative label: Flint Lime Brick
alternative label: Malm (Brick)
alternative label: Ruabon Brick
alternative label: Staffordshire Blue Brick
alternative label: Vitrified Brick
broader: Material <By Form>
narrower: Engineering Brick
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Clay
related: Peat
related: Mathematical Tile
scope note: Standard rectangular block or tablet bonded on mortar joints in a regular arrangement or pattern for strength or decoration. Made from clay or brick earth which may contain varying quantities of chalk, lime or iron oxide which effect colour or density.

Engineering Brick
type: Concept
broader: Brick
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A dense, high strength, low absorption brick of uniform size, employed predominantly in industrial structures such as railway viaducts.

Fluorite
type: Concept
alternative label: Fluorspar
broader: Mineral
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Soft mineral, colour varying from black/purple to yellow/green. Commonly found as a mineral vein.

Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Gaisby Stone
alternative label: Metamorphic Stone
narrower: Alabaster
narrower: Basalt
narrower: Breccia
narrower: Chert
narrower: Conglomerate
narrower: Diorite
narrower: Dolerite
narrower: Forest Stone (Leicestershire)
narrower: Freestone
narrower: Gneiss
narrower: Granite
narrower: Greenstone
narrower: Ironstone
narrower: Limestone
narrower: Marble
narrower: Polyphant
narrower: Quartzite
narrower: Ragstone
narrower: Rhyolite
narrower: Sandstone
narrower: Schist
narrower: Serpentine
narrower: Shale
narrower: Siltstone
narrower: Slate
narrower: Syenite
narrower: Whinstone
narrower: Porphyry
narrower: Tuff
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Artificial Stone
related: Cobble
related: Fossil
related: Gravel
related: Pebble
related: Rubble
scope note: Rock of definite form and size, usually artificially shaped. See STONE CLass List for narrow terms.
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Freestone
type: Concept
alternative label: Hard York Freestone
alternative label: Langton Freestone
alternative label: Yorkshire Freestone
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Stonemason's term for any easily worked sedimentary rock. Index with specific stone type where given.

Ragstone
type: Concept
alternative label: Rag
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Stonemason's term for any coarse/hard stone that is not easily worked. Index with specific stone type where given. Not to be confused with Kentish Ragstone.

Tuff
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A light porous cellular rock, consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption.

Reigate Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Gatton Stone
alternative label: Godstone Stone
alternative label: Merstham Stone
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Limestone
scope note: Soft, medium grained, green/grey coloured, highly calcareous, cretaceous sandstone. Mined (more frequently than quarried) since pre-Norman times from the Reigate area of Surrey.

Malmstone
type: Concept
alternative label: Green Ventnor Stone
alternative label: Malm (Stone)
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Ironstone
related: Limestone
scope note: A soft, grey to white coloured, sandstone formed during the Cretaceous period, whose sand grains are cemented together with lime.

Sarsen Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Greyweathers
alternative label: Heathstone
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Moorstone
scope note: Extremely hard, fine grained, grey to brown silica rich sandstone. It is often found on the surface of the South Downs and has been used, as found, since prehistoric times.

Ham Hill Stone
type: Concept
alternative label: Ham Stone
broader: Lias
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Shelly, gold/brown, coloured liassic limestone containing large quantities of crystalline calcite.

Fibreboard
type: Concept
alternative label: Hardboard
alternative label: Medium Board
alternative label: Medium Density Fibreboard
broader: Panel Board
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Wood
scope note: A sheet formed from wood which has been separated into its fibrous elements and reconstituted under pressure. The natural fibres produce resins which act as adhesive, but often additional adhesives are used.

Basalt
type: Concept
alternative label: Hurdwick Stone
alternative label: Killerton Stone
alternative label: Volcanic Stone
alternative label: Volcanic Trap
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Greenstone
related: Rhyolite
related: Whinstone
related: Serpentine
scope note: Basic, black coloured, fine grained, igneous rock.

Residue
type: Concept
alternative label: Industrial Waste
narrower: Clinker
narrower: Lime
narrower: Slag
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Breeze Block
scope note: By-product or waste, resulting from an industrial process.

Clinker
type: Concept
broader: Residue
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Fused ash from furnaces used as aggregate.

Slag
type: Concept
broader: Residue
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Waste material or dross separated from metals during smelting or refining.

Chert
type: Concept
alternative label: Knapped Chert
alternative label: Lyddite
broader: Stone
narrower: Flint
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A hard, silica rich rock, black or brown coloured, commonly found in nodular form.

Flint
type: Concept
alternative label: Knapped Flint
broader: Chert
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, durable, dark grey stone, the purest native form of silica, which can either be used decoratively or as a main material. Predominantly found in East Anglia and the South East.

Lime
type: Concept
alternative label: Lime Mortar
broader: Residue
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Cement
related: Daub
related: Mortar
related: Roman Cement
related: Plaster
scope note: Calcium Oxide obtained by heating limestone in a kiln. Used as a constituent of modern mortar, or as slaked (non-hydraulic) lime in lime putty, daub, limewash and traditional lime plaster, mortar and renders.

Mortar
type: Concept
alternative label: Lime Mortar
broader: Cement Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Cement
related: Lime
related: Sand
scope note: A mixture of lime or more recently cement with sand and water used for bonding stones or bricks.

Slate
type: Concept
alternative label: Longford Rustic Slate
alternative label: Rag Slate
alternative label: Riven Slate
alternative label: Swithland Slate
narrower: Killas
narrower: Lake District Slate
narrower: Scottish Slate
narrower: Welsh Slate
narrower: West Country Slate
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Forest Stone (Leicestershire)
related: Shale
scope note: Collective term for a hard, fine grained, dark coloured metamorphic rock, which splits easily; hence its common use as a roofing and flooring material, and a functional description for any rectangular, sheet, roofing material.

Killas
type: Concept
broader: Slate
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Cornish miner's term for slates formed during the Carboniferous and Devonian periods.

Tessera
type: Concept
alternative label: Mosaic
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Squared block of glass, tile, stone or marble used in mosaic.

Shale
type: Concept
alternative label: Mudstone
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Carboniferous Limestone
related: Lake District Slate
related: Limestone
related: Sandstone
related: Siltstone
related: Slate
related: Welsh Slate
related: West Country Slate
scope note: Soft, very fine grained, dark coloured, sedimentary rock which splits easily.

Ironstone
type: Concept
alternative label: Northamptonshire Stone
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Carstone
related: Firestone
related: Sandstone
related: Lias
related: Marlstone
related: Oolitic Limestone
related: Malmstone
scope note: Collective name for any stone that has become impregnated with iron oxide. Index with specific stone type where given.

Pargeting
type: Concept
alternative label: Pargetting
broader: Decorative Plaster
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: External decorative plasterwork often incised or modelled with ornamental patterns. Usually applied to timber-framed houses, especially during 16th and 17th centuries.

Peat
type: Concept
alternative label: Peat Brick
broader: Vegetal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Brick
related: Earth
scope note: Part-decomposed vegetable matter formed under waterlogged conditions into a firm, brown deposit resembling soil. Used as a brick for infilling in timber framed walls.

Pise
type: Concept
alternative label: Pise De Terre
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Rammed earth or clay of a low moisture content used to make floors or walls, or found between shuttering.

Plymetal
type: Concept
alternative label: Plymax
broader: Panel Board
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Metal
related: Wood
scope note: Structural board comprising a core of thin layers of wood bonded together, which is faced on one or both sides with a sheet of metal, usually galvanised steel or aluminium. Mainly used for external wall cladding.

Bituminous Felt
type: Concept
alternative label: Roofing Felt
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A material made of felted fibres bonded by bitumen. Often used as a roofing material.

Terracotta
type: Concept
alternative label: Ruabon Brick
narrower: Faience
broader: Ceramic
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Tile
scope note: Hard, unglazed, brown, versatile earthenware which can be used as a tile or moulded into statuary. Used in a structural or semi-structural context as a moulded hollow block.

Serpentine
type: Concept
alternative label: Serpentinite
alternative label: Tinos
alternative label: Verde Antico
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Basalt
related: Connemara Marble
related: Polyphant
related: Rhyolite
related: Syenite
scope note: Medium to coarse grained, green to dark red/black coloured igneous rock, mainly found on The Lizard, South West Cornwall. Due to its fragmentary structure, Serpentine is mainly used for decorative and ornamental purposes.

Steel
type: Concept
alternative label: Stainless Steel
narrower: High Tensile Steel
narrower: Weathering Steel
narrower: Galvanized Steel
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Reinforced Concrete
scope note: An alloy of iron and carbon, its strength makes it suitable for load bearing purposes. It is primarily used in structural steelwork and concrete reinforcement.

High Tensile Steel
type: Concept
broader: Steel
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A strong alloy of steel.

Galvanized Steel
type: Concept
alternative label: Galvanised Steel
broader: Steel
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Steel coated in zinc, giving good protection against weathering.

Lias
type: Concept
alternative label: Stowey Stone
narrower: Blue Lias
narrower: Ham Hill Stone
narrower: Hornton Stone
narrower: Marlstone
broader: Jurassic Limestone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Clay
related: Ironstone
related: Sandstone
scope note: Collective term for the building limestones formed during the Lower Jurassic period.

Hornton Stone
type: Concept
broader: Lias
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Compact grained, brown/yellow/green/grey blue, coloured liassic limestone.

Scagliola
type: Concept
alternative label: Stucco Lustro
broader: Decorative Plaster
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Artificial Stone
related: Marble
scope note: Composite substance of plaster formed by gypsum, sand and lime and coloured with pigments, fixed under heat and highly polished. Used to imitate marble and popular in the 17th and 18th centuries for architectural features.

Syenite
type: Concept
alternative label: Swedish Green Granite
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Forest Stone (Leicestershire)
related: Rhyolite
related: Serpentine
scope note: Hard, coarse grained, green to pink coloured igneous rock. Commonly used as a polished cladding.

Marlstone
type: Concept
alternative label: Uppingham Stone
broader: Lias
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Ironstone
related: Septaria
scope note: Fine grained, iron rich, liassic limestone, found in Dorset, Somerset, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Faience
type: Concept
alternative label: Marmo
broader: Terracotta
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Tile
scope note: Solid masonry slabs (tiles) of terracotta which are usually used as a cladding by bedding in concrete. Faience also refers to decorative glazed units.

Reed
type: Concept
alternative label: Water Reed
broader: Plant
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Thatch
scope note: The tall, straight stalks or stems formed by plants found in the wetland areas, particularly The Fens. Used as a roofing material, the reed is laid with the ends forming the exposed covering surface.

Ethyltetrafluoroethylene Foil
type: Concept
alternative label: Efte Foil
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Extremely thin foil made out of ethyltetraflouroethylene, a modified copolymer which is extruded into a thin film and which is related to Teflon. It has a very high level of light transmission in visible and ultra violet range. Used instead of glass.

Breeze Block
type: Concept
alternative label: Thermalite
broader: Concrete
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Residue
scope note: Lightweight building block traditionally made with coke breeze from gas works combined with sand and cement. Use this term generally to denote a light, modern concrete building block with man made characteristics.

Painted Plaster
type: Concept
alternative label: Painted Wall Plaster
broader: Plaster
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Plaster which has been painted either for decorative purposes or to protect it.

Bungaroosh
type: Concept
alternative label: Bungeroosh
broader: Cement Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Composed of a wide variety of substances and materials such as whole or broken bricks, cobblestones, flints, pebbles and sand which are set into hydraulic lime. Used most often to form external walls and is commonly found in the Brighton/Lewes region.

Pine
type: Concept
alternative label: Baltic Pine
broader: Wood
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Wood of a coniferous tree native to Scotland and Scandinavia.

Alabaster
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Marble
scope note: Fine grained, whitish, granular variety of Gypsum. Suitable for carving.

Metal
type: Concept
narrower: Aluminium
narrower: Brass
narrower: Bronze
narrower: Copper
narrower: Gold
narrower: Iron
narrower: Lead
narrower: Silver
narrower: Steel
narrower: Tin
narrower: Zinc
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Plymetal
scope note: Class of elements and alloys that are characteristically lustrous,ductile, fusible and malleable. These are extracted from ore minerals originally existing in nature and processed before becoming a recognisable metal. See METAL Class List for narrow terms
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Brass
type: Concept
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Easily formed metal alloy composed of copper and zinc.

Gold
type: Concept
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A precious metal characterised by its yellow colour and resistance to tarnishing.

Silver
type: Concept
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A precious metal of lustrous white colour with great malleability and ductility.

Zinc
type: Concept
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A hard and lustrous metallic element, used for roofing, galvanising iron and a component of alloys such as brass.

Material <By Form>
type: Concept
narrower: Artificial Slate
narrower: Ashlar
narrower: Brick
narrower: Canvas
narrower: Cobble
narrower: Decorative Plaster
narrower: Gravel
narrower: Pebble
narrower: Rubble
narrower: Tessera
narrower: Thatch
narrower: Tile
narrower: Timber
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A raw material determined by its form or a finished product material characterised by its end shape or form. See MATERIAL <BY FORM> Class List for narrow terms.
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Ashlar
type: Concept
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A square, hewn or worked, high class freestone which can be 'freely' cut and is laid in horizontal courses with vertical joints.

Canvas
type: Concept
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: An unbleached cloth of hemp, flax or other coarse yarn.

Man Made Material
type: Concept
narrower: Artificial Stone
narrower: Artificial Timber
narrower: Asbestos
narrower: Bitumen
narrower: Bituminous Felt
narrower: Cement Mix
narrower: Ceramic
narrower: Fibreglass
narrower: Glass
narrower: Panel Board
narrower: Paper
narrower: Plastic
narrower: Render
narrower: Residue
narrower: Rubber
narrower: Ethyltetrafluoroethylene Foil
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A material or combination of materials manufactured by human effort, or fashioned into shape by man or a man made industrial process (excluding metal). See MAN MADE MATERIAL Class List for narrow terms.
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Artificial Timber
type: Concept
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Synthetic fibres and reconstituted materials imitating, or in the form of, timber created by a man-made process. Use carefully - do not confuse with mock and sham timber work.

Fibreglass
type: Concept
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Any material consisting of glass filaments woven into textiles, paper or board.

Asphalt
type: Concept
broader: Bitumen
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Solid or viscous bituminous pitch of natural occurrence,or produced from petroleum mixed with sand or other aggregate filler, for use in roads or as a covering material

Bitumen
type: Concept
narrower: Asphalt
narrower: Tar
narrower: Tarmacadam
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A semi solid mixture of complex hydrocarbons derived from coal or petroleum. Used as a waterproof binder or protective coating.

Tar
type: Concept
broader: Bitumen
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Thick, viscid liquid, obtained by the distillation of wood, coal or other organic substances, chemically a mixture of hydrocarbons with resins.

Tarmacadam
type: Concept
broader: Bitumen
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Road or paving material combining crushed stone, rolled and mixed with bitumen type mixer.

Bakelite
type: Concept
broader: Plastic
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: An early thermosetting plastic commonly used for its properties of electrical insulation.

Plastic
type: Concept
narrower: Bakelite
narrower: Polycarbonate
narrower: Polyvinyl Chloride
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Rubber
scope note: Any of large class of polymers based on synthetic resins or modified natural polymers which may be moulded, extruded or cast while soft or liquid, which then set rigidly or slightly elastic in form.

Polycarbonate
type: Concept
broader: Plastic
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Very tough transparent sheeting often used for security glazing.

Polyvinyl Chloride
type: Concept
broader: Plastic
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A type of thermoplastic polymer which is versatile and cheap, often referred to as PVC. This includes plasticized PVC and unplasticized PVC (uPVC).

Bamboo
type: Concept
broader: Wood
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Tropical giant grass with hollow stem used structurally or as a covering material.

Wood
type: Concept
narrower: Bamboo
narrower: Cedar
narrower: Cork
narrower: Elm
narrower: Oak
narrower: Pine
broader: Plant
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Fibreboard
related: Paper
related: Plymetal
related: Plywood
related: Timber
related: Weatherboard
related: Woodwool Slab
scope note: Hard, compact, unprocessed, fibrous cellulose substance. The roots, trunks and branches of trees and shrubs consist of this tissue.

Cedar
type: Concept
broader: Wood
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Durable wood from a non-native, evergreen conifer.

Cork
type: Concept
broader: Wood
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Buoyant, light material obtained from the cork tree.

Elm
type: Concept
broader: Wood
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Deciduous wood from the native elm tree, commonly used for framing or cladding of lesser timber framed structures due to its poorer weathering qualities as compared to oak.

Oak
type: Concept
broader: Wood
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A native hardwood of the Beech family with hard and durable characteristics which traditionally made it appropriate for structural work.

Blue Lias
type: Concept
broader: Lias
narrower: Keinton Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard white/grey coloured liassic limestone. Quarried on the Devon-Dorset border.

Keinton Stone
type: Concept
broader: Blue Lias
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, white/grey coloured liassic limestone. Quarried near Somerton in Somerset.

Bone
type: Concept
broader: Animal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Any of the pieces of hard tissue consisting largely of calcium phosphate that make up the skeleton of a vertebrate animal.

Animal
type: Concept
narrower: Bone
narrower: Fossil
narrower: Leather
narrower: Shell
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Pertaining to or deriving from a living organism. See ANIMAL Class list for narrow terms.
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Leather
type: Concept
broader: Animal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Animal skin that has been hardened or treated by a tanning process.

Shell
type: Concept
broader: Animal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, protective covering made largely of calcium salts secreted by soft bodied invertebrate animals.

Breccia
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Conglomerate
related: Puddingstone
related: Hertfordshire Puddingstone
scope note: Sedimentary rock consisting of angular fragments naturally cemented together.

Bronze
type: Concept
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Copper
related: Tin
scope note: Hard, corrosive resistant alloy of copper and tin.

Cement Mix
type: Concept
narrower: Cement
narrower: Concrete
narrower: Mortar
narrower: Roman Cement
narrower: Slurry
narrower: Bungaroosh
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A binder combined with various aggregates which sets and holds together into a mass which then hardens and gains strength.

Ceramic
type: Concept
broader: Man Made Material
narrower: Majolica
narrower: Terracotta
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Clay
related: Tile
scope note: Designating or pertaining to hard, brittle substances produced by strong heating of clay.

Majolica
type: Concept
broader: Ceramic
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Fine earthenware with raised patterns of coloured decoration in the form of an enamel or coloured opaque glaze. Use for decorative wall facings.

Earth Mix
type: Concept
narrower: Clay
narrower: Clay Lump
narrower: Cob
narrower: Daub
narrower: Earth
narrower: Mud
narrower: Pise
narrower: Sand
narrower: Marl
narrower: Brickearth
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Unbaked clays and/or soil material often mixed with, or performing the function of an aggregate or binder. See EARTH MIX Class List for narrow terms.
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Clay Lump
type: Concept
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Large, moulded, unburnt blocks of clay type soil laid in a similar way to brick, but bedded in lime and clay 'mortar'. The walls produced are characteristically thinner than those of cob and pise.

Mud
type: Concept
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Wet soil, sand or other earthy matter combined with ballast and bonded with straw or other binding material. Walls are built in the absence of shuttering by the simple process of pitching in layers.

Marl
type: Concept
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A mixed earthy substance consisting principally of clay mixed with calcium carbonate and sand in very variable proportions.

Brickearth
type: Concept
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: An unconsolidated geological deposit sometimes iused as a bonding material in stone walls.

Cobble
type: Concept
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Stone
scope note: Naturally occurring glacial rock fragments (diameter 64-256mm) larger than pebble and smaller than boulder.

Connemara Marble
type: Concept
broader: Marble
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Serpentine
scope note: One of only three 'true' British marbles, green and white in colour, predominantly used in large public buildings.

Copper
type: Concept
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Bronze
scope note: Metal used primarily for roofing and ornamental purposes, being lighter and stronger than lead.

Daub
type: Concept
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Lath
related: Wattle
related: Plaster
related: Lime
scope note: Application of earth based plaster to a backing of lath or wattle used in internal or external walls. Composite mixture which may include clay soil, dung, straw, lime putty, sand or horsehair.

Decorative Plaster
type: Concept
broader: Material <By Form>
broader: Plaster
narrower: Pargeting
narrower: Scagliola
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Ornate or patterned decoration, carved into or moulded from plaster.

Plaster
type: Concept
narrower: Decorative Plaster
narrower: Painted Plaster
broader: Render
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Daub
related: Lath
related: Lime
scope note: Lime plaster, consisting of lime and sand, is the oldest type of render. Applied externally to walls or onto laths for infill panels and usually limewashed.

Dolerite
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Greenstone
related: Rhyolite
related: Whinstone
scope note: Medium grained, intrusive, black or dark green coloured, igneous rock.

Mineral
type: Concept
narrower: Dolomite
narrower: Feldspar
narrower: Fluorite
narrower: Hornblende
narrower: Quartz
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Fossil
scope note: Natural inorganic substance possessing a definite chemical composition in a crystalline form. See MINERAL Class List for narrow terms.
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Feldspar
type: Concept
broader: Mineral
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Hard, often coloured, can be transparent. Found on its own as crystals and veins but also as a major constituent of all three geological rock types.

Hornblende
type: Concept
broader: Mineral
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Medium hard, green/black coloured. Found in many igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Earth
type: Concept
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Peat
related: Turf
scope note: Combination of organic and inorganic material cohered to form a hard solid wall or covering. Use for structures created by the excavation and piling up of earth, such as ice houses. Earth may be used in combination with other materials.

Porphyry
type: Concept
narrower: Elvan
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Forest Stone (Leicestershire)
related: Granite
scope note: Traditional term for any fine to medium grained igneous rock, containing large crystal fragments.

Panel Board
type: Concept
narrower: Fibreboard
narrower: Plymetal
narrower: Plywood
narrower: Woodwool Slab
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Large board used for covering the internal surfaces of a building, ie. floors, walls and ceilings. Some forms can be used as external cladding.

Firestone
type: Concept
broader: Sandstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Ironstone
scope note: Soft sandstone stained by iron oxide often used in the Surrey area.

Glass
type: Concept
broader: Man Made Material
narrower: Solar Control Glass
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Transparent, hard substance made by fusing soda-silica which solidifies from a molten state.

Solar Control Glass
type: Concept
broader: Glass
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Glass to control or reduce the effects of the sun, includes both reflective and absorpative types of glass.

Gorse
type: Concept
broader: Plant
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Thatch
scope note: A spiny evergreen shrub of the pea family which can be utilized as a roof covering in areas of its predominance, eg. heathland.

Plant
type: Concept
narrower: Gorse
narrower: Heather
narrower: Reed
narrower: Straw
narrower: Wood
narrower: Seaweed
narrower: Grass
broader: Vegetal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Any tree, shrub or herb of cellulose form, normally subsisting in soil and producing its food through photosynthesis.

Seaweed
type: Concept
broader: Plant
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Multicellular marine alga, which grows on the seashore, in salt marshes, in brackish water or submerged in the ocean.

Grass
type: Concept
broader: Plant
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Ground-covering herbage, some varieties of which can be used, especially when dried and in large quantities, as a construction material.

Gravel
type: Concept
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Stone
related: Sand
scope note: Grains of rock fragment larger than coarse sand and finer than pebbles (diameter 2-4mm).

Greenstone
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Basalt
related: Dolerite
related: Granite
scope note: Geologist's term for any dark coloured, slightly metamorphosed igneous rock. Index with specific stone type where given.

Heather
type: Concept
broader: Plant
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Thatch
scope note: A dwarf shrub of the heath family used as an alternative to straw as a roof covering in moorland regions. Cut while in bloom and laid with the roots carefully entwined. The covering turns a characteristic black colour with age.

Lath
type: Concept
broader: Timber
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Daub
related: Plaster
scope note: Narrow strips of wood which can form the groundwork for slates, panels or plaster work.

Lead
type: Concept
broader: Metal
narrower: Sheet Lead
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Metal used primarily for roof coverings and window fittings. It is easy to work, can be worked cold and does not rust which makes it suitable for holding or repelling water.

Sheet Lead
type: Concept
broader: Lead
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Lead which has been rolled into a sheet and often used as a roof covering.

Long Straw
type: Concept
broader: Straw
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Thatch
scope note: Composed of loose uncombed lengths of harvested wheat which are formed into bundles for laying. Distinctive appearance with both ears and butts visible on the surface traditionally using hazel spars which hold the straw in place.

Straw
type: Concept
narrower: Long Straw
narrower: Combed Wheat Reed
broader: Plant
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Thatch
scope note: Roofing material consisting of stems or stalks of wheat, rye, oats or barley separated from grain and laid flat in 'yealms' which form an overlapping surface which sheds water.

Combed Wheat Reed
type: Concept
broader: Straw
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: A form of thatching straw composed of stems that have been combed mechanically to remove grain and extraneous waste material without crushing the stem.

Mathematical Tile
type: Concept
broader: Tile
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Brick
scope note: Tile nailed externally to a wall and usually laid in mortar designed to present a brick-like appearance.

Moorstone
type: Concept
broader: Granite
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Sarsen Stone
scope note: Stonemason's name for granite found lying upon the moorland surface, as opposed to having been quarried, in the West Country and the Lake District. Used, as found, since prehistoric times, in later years was often dressed and shaped.

Pantile
type: Concept
broader: Tile
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Clay
related: Concrete
scope note: Curved, interlocking roof tile of S-shaped section usually made of clay or concrete.

Paper
type: Concept
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Wood
scope note: Thin flexible sheets made from the pulp of wood or other fibrous matter.

Vegetal
type: Concept
narrower: Peat
narrower: Plant
narrower: Turf
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
scope note: Pertaining to or deriving from a botanical living organism. See VEGETAL Class List for narrow terms.
top concept of: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus

Pebble
type: Concept
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Stone
related: Pebbledash
scope note: Rock fragment (diameter 4-64mm) larger than gravel and smaller than cobble, combined with other material e.g. flint, for decorative effect.

Pebbledash
type: Concept
broader: Render
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Pebble
scope note: A render with small washed stones added as aggregate. Popular in the early 20th century.

Plywood
type: Concept
broader: Panel Board
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Wood
scope note: Thin layers of wood, bonded together to form a structural board. The grain of the adjacent layers lie across one another to give structural strength. Produced since mid 19th century for use in interior joinery, since 1930's for exterior use.

Polyphant
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Marble
related: Serpentine
scope note: Compact, grey/green/brown/white-speckled coloured igneous rock, peculiar to Cornwall. It is easy to carve and readily takes a polish, hence its similarity to British marbles.

Puddingstone
type: Concept
broader: Conglomerate
narrower: Hertfordshire Puddingstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Breccia
scope note: Conglomerate consisting of rounded flint pebbles held together in a natural silica and sand cement.

Quartz
type: Concept
broader: Mineral
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Quartzite
scope note: Hard, transparent, often coloured mineral. Can be found on its own as crystals and veins but also as a major constituent of rocks such as granite. Often used decoratively.

Reinforced Concrete
type: Concept
broader: Concrete
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Steel
scope note: Aggregate, cement and mortar combined with structural elements of iron or steel mesh or rod reinforcement to form stonelike masses for load bearing, structural building work.

Rhyolite
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Basalt
related: Dolerite
related: Syenite
related: Serpentine
scope note: Fine grained, acidic, light-grey/white/ brown/red-coloured igneous rock.

Roman Cement
type: Concept
broader: Cement Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Lime
related: Septaria
scope note: Technically a quick setting hydraulic cement or lime,but term has been adapted to denote cement made from burning lumps of marl found in London clay,a technique adopted for C19th building work. Name not intended to denote a relationship with Roman period

Rubber
type: Concept
broader: Man Made Material
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Plastic
scope note: Flexible, synthetic, polymeric organic material formed by chemical synthesis usually in imitation of a natural substance. It can be moulded to shape, extruded or formed into a sheet from solid or foam material.

Rubble
type: Concept
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Stone
scope note: Rough, unhewn, undressed building stones with irregular faces, generally not laid in regular courses. Index with type of stone if specified.

Sand
type: Concept
broader: Earth Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Cement
related: Concrete
related: Gravel
related: Mortar
scope note: Granular material consisting of small eroded fragments of rock or mineral grains, finer than gravel used as an ingredient in mortar and other traditional building materials.

Septaria
type: Concept
broader: Conglomerate
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Marlstone
related: Roman Cement
scope note: Conglomerate consisting of nodules of calcium rich clay (marl). Used as a building stone from Roman times and as a key ingredient in Parker's Roman Cement, between 1796 and circa 1850.

Shingle
type: Concept
broader: Tile
broader: Timber
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Timber
related: Tile
scope note: Wooden roof tile (traditionally oak) which is riven or sawn from good quality timber to a regular size and used as a roof and/or wall covering. Index with type of wood if known.

Siltstone
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Shale
scope note: Fine grained, yellow/buff to grey/black coloured sedimentary rock.

Slurry
type: Concept
broader: Cement Mix
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Cement
scope note: Cement/water mix often used as covering. Use this for entries including slurrying and slurried.

Thatch
type: Concept
broader: Material <By Form>
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Gorse
related: Heather
related: Long Straw
related: Reed
related: Straw
scope note: Traditional roof covering consisting of materials such as reed, straw or heather layered and fastened together onto roof to form a run off to prevent water penetration.

Tin
type: Concept
broader: Metal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Bronze
scope note: Malleable metal used for roofing and for alloys such as bronze.

Turf
type: Concept
broader: Vegetal
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Earth
scope note: Layer of grass with earth and matted roots cut from the ground and used for earth buildings and as a covering material.

Wattle
type: Concept
broader: Timber
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Daub
scope note: Wooden rods or stakes which can be interlaced with twigs or branches to make walls or fences, or more commonly, to form the basis of panels in traditional timber framed buildings which are then covered with daub.

Weatherboard
type: Concept
broader: Timber
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Wood
scope note: Length of timber boarding (usually elm, now pine) fixed horizontally or vertically to the exterior of a structure which may be 'tongue and grooved' or 'feathered' to provide external protection.

Whinstone
type: Concept
broader: Stone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Basalt
related: Dolerite
scope note: Northern quarryman's name for any fine grained, dark grey/black to green coloured igneous rock. Index with specific stone type where given.

Woodwool Slab
type: Concept
broader: Panel Board
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Cement
related: Wood
scope note: A sheet or board made from a mixture of thin strips of wood and cement which are bound together through compression within a mould. Woodwool slabs are used for roof or wall cladding, providing fire resistance, and heat and sound insulation.

Hertfordshire Puddingstone
type: Concept
broader: Puddingstone
in scheme: FISH Building Materials Thesaurus
issued: 2026-02-09T14:11:02
license: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
attribution URL: https://historicengland.org.uk/
attribution name: Historic England
publisher: historicengland.org.uk
spatial: http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7002445
spatial: England
related: Breccia
scope note: A conglomerate rock comprising well rounded flint pebbles in a very hard matrix of fine pale coloured sand, bound together by hard natural silica cement. The pebbles are usually coloured ochre or red and have black rims.