Open Day Sat 18th June

Due to popular demand we are opening our doors on Saturday 18th June between 10am and 4pm for an open day! This is a rare opportunity to see how we hand craft our stone in our Kent workshop. Our onsite engraver, Nigel Hartfield will even let you try your hand at engraving! Find out more about it.

70 Years of Craftsmanship

Our manufacturing process hasn’t changed much throughout our 70 years in business. We opened on the day of the Queen’s coronation back in the 1950s. Everything is produced in our workshop with skill and hand tools because you can’t get the same fine finish which machinery. That is why we will never mass produce our products in a factory with a production line. Everything is made to order in our experienced workshop. Although the world has changed significantly in seventy years of business, our manufacturing processes hasn’t.

A newspaper article from 1971.

On Saturday 18th June 2022 between 10am and 4pm, you can come along and see how we make our garden ornaments. We rarely show the public how we manufacture our fine cast stone, so now is your chance to see how we work.

Inside the skilled and somewhat secret Chilstone workshop.

Engraving –  Something Personal

Our onsite engraver, Nigel Hartfield has decades of experience in this fine craft and he will be demonstrating his skills. He will also encourage visitors to have a go at engraving our cast stone. Nigel’s work has appeared on the BBC and at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. He has even recreated the famous Charlie and Lola characters on a stone bench for the former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child!

Nigel’s engraving has appeared on the BBC and at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Many customers love to engrave our garden ornaments with personal messages or commemorative dates, from sundials to benches and house signs.

A beautiful garden with Chilstone engraved benches.

A Stroll Around Our Grounds

While we are predominately a manufacturer, we are lucky to be situated in the countryside. During our open day you are welcome to take a stroll around our grounds and garden. See our statues and fountains and get a feel of what we have to offer. We make many items on request as well as restoration projects, so please just ask us for more information. We even have a small lake with a bench beside it to take in the view.

Bring your family along. Dogs are very welcome on leads. We will have refreshments available and plenty of free parking. No need to book, just turn up and entry is free too.

The beautiful Harvey was a frequent visitor to Chilstone.

Come Along

Come along and meet our friendly, experienced team who can advise you on your garden ornaments and architectural stone. From colour matching our stone to your existing property, to restorations or bespoke projects and engraving, we can help you bring your designs to life.

No need to book. Just turn up between 10am and 4pm and enjoy the day. We are just outside Tunbridge Wells, between Langton Green and Fordcombe. Find out more about our show gardens here.