From Stone to Street: Alpendurada Granite Shaping the UK Public Realm
Nestled in the rolling hills of Alpendurada, just a stone’s throw (pun fully intended) from the banks of the Douro River, lies a powerhouse of Portuguese granite production. This isn’t just any stone – this is precision-cut, architecturally refined granite that finds its way into paving slabs, kerbs, benches, and bespoke natural stone solutions across the UK.
BBS Natural Stone Specialists Limited plays a key role in shaping the public spaces of Britain. From the timeless pavements of historical town centres to modern civic landscapes, whether you’re walking through a civic square or relaxing on a bench in a landscaped park, there’s a good chance the natural stone was shaped in Portugal.
But behind the engineering marvel lies craftsmanship, innovation, and a deep connection to place. Walking through the factory is like stepping into a symphony of saws, polishers, and skilled hands transforming raw blocks into works of engineered art. It’s industrial poetry in motion.
It all starts in the hills, where granite blocks are extracted using diamond wire saws and drilling techniques to minimize fractures and reduce waste. These massive blocks — sometimes weighing over 20 tonnes — are then transported to the factory for processing.
At the factory, the transformation begins:
- Gangsaws slice the raw blocks into slabs with surgical precision.
- Polishing lines then refine the surface to a smooth, glossy finish — unless a more rugged texture is needed.
- Need grip or character? Enter finishes like:
- Flamed finish – achieved by applying intense heat, popping the crystals and creating a textured, non-slip surface.
- Shot blasting – where steel beads are blasted at the surface for a rough, weathered texture perfect for paving.
- Zero-waste philosophy:
- Offcuts and fragments are repurposed into kerbs, cobbles, setts or crushed for aggregates.
- Water from the polishing process is filtered and reused.
- Even granite dust finds a second life in road sub-bases or concrete fillers.
Alongside the machinery and skilled workers, there was real learning too — especially around BS 7533, the UK’s standard for the design and construction of pavements using modular paving units like concrete blocks, clay pavers and natural stone.
It was invaluable to see how the production team worked with us to design a bespoke product aligning their production tolerances, surface finishes, and dimensional accuracy to meet the rigorous technical requirements for the project. It’s not just about beautiful stone – it’s about durability, slip resistance, water management, and structural integrity, all built into the product from the quarry floor up.
One of many things that stood with me was observing the owner himself behind the wheel of a forklift, helping the team load slabs. No suit, no corner office – just boots on the ground, sleeves rolled up, and a deep commitment to quality and teamwork. It’s that kind of hands-on leadership that shows the soul behind the stone. Our Hosts Jose, Kevin and MJ were tremendous in sharing the natural history of the area, knowledge about granite quarries and associated manufacturing.
The regions soul reveals itself when the hard hats comes off as the sun is setting and the dust settles, the region’s soul reveals itself; not just in stone, but in the region’s flavours. Seafood of Crab pate, grilled sardines, turbot and octopus by the river with a glass of Port while admiring the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, an engineering landmark with roots in Eiffel’s legacy.
The regions soul reveals itself when the hard hats comes off as the sun is setting and the dust settles, the region’s soul reveals itself; not just in stone, but in the region’s flavours. Seafood of Crab pate, grilled sardines, turbot and octopus by the river with a glass of Port while admiring the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, an engineering landmark with roots in Eiffel’s legacy. This is the most fun I have had in recent years designing a highway infrastructure in London.
