Quick answer: Cawdor Stone Gallery is a family-run stone worktop specialist in Hertfordshire, established in 1986 and celebrating 40 years in the stone industry in 2026. From a small fabrication business, the gallery has grown to supply and fit quartz, granite, marble, sintered stone and porcelain worktops in homes across St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Harpenden, Stevenage and beyond. Our award-winning showroom opened to the public in 2003.
This year we turn 40, yes, Cawdor Stone Gallery is the big forty. It is an exciting year as we celebrate this milestone in the stone industry. Since 1986, we have been helping homeowners across Hertfordshire and beyond choose, fabricate and fit stone worktops for their kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces. We are incredibly proud of this milestone, and one that very few businesses in our industry can claim.
Cawdor has gone from strength to strength in the last 40 years. We have seen how the industry has changed dramatically through the decades, and it says something about how we have adapted, invested and stayed focused on doing one thing well: delivering beautifully crafted stone surfaces to people who care about their homes.
Where It All Began in 1986
1986 was the year Cawdor Stone Gallery set out in the stone industry, when stone worktops were far from the mainstream choice they are today. Laminate and tile dominated British kitchens, and a natural stone surface was considered a luxury reserved for a small number of high-end projects. There was not much range available, and finding a specialist fabricator meant knowing the right people.
From day one, our approach was straightforward. Source the best materials we could find, cut and finish them with care, and fit them properly. It sounds simple, but getting those three things right consistently is what has kept our customers coming back and recommending us for four decades.
How Cawdor Stone Gallery Has Evolved
Over the years, the stone industry has transformed around us, and we have evolved with it. In the early days, natural granite was the main option available to our customers. Engineered quartz arrived in the 1990s, allowing us to offer brands like Silestone and Caesarstone with a wider palette of colours and finishes without compromising on quality.
In 2003, our award-winning Cawdor Stone Gallery showroom opened to the public, giving homeowners a place to see full-size slabs in natural light rather than relying on small samples.
More recently, we have embraced the next generation of surfaces, sintered stone and porcelain. We have invested in the tools and expertise needed to fabricate these ultra-compact materials to the highest standard, and our clients now have one of the widest selections available in the Southeast.
We have also grown in how we serve our customers. Many homeowners travel from other areas of the UK to visit our Hertfordshire showroom to see and touch the real slabs, meet our experts and talk through their projects. In an industry where colour, texture and finish are everything, there is no substitute for standing in front of the actual stone that will end up in your kitchen.
Cawdor Stone Gallery Key Milestones
- 1986: Founded as a stone fabrication business in Hertfordshire
- 1990s: Engineered quartz arrives in the UK; brands like Silestone and Caesarstone added to the range
- 2003: Award-winning Cawdor Stone Gallery showroom opens to the public
- 2010s: CNC precision fabrication and laser-measured templating replace hand-cut edges and cardboard templates
- 2020s: Sintered stone and porcelain added; one of the widest selections in the Southeast
- 2026: Celebrating 40 years of supplying and fitting stone worktops
What 40 Years in Stone Has Taught Us
Throughout our forty years in the business, we have learned that materials come and go, but craftsmanship does not. The tools and technology have changed enormously since 1986, from hand-cut edges to CNC precision and from cardboard templates to laser measuring, but the fundamentals remain the same. A worktop is only as good as the people who make it and fit it.
We have learned that trust is earned slowly and lost quickly. Many of our customers come to us through recommendations, often from family members, friends or neighbours who had their own worktops fitted by us years ago. That kind of reputation is built through thousands of individual kitchens, each done right.
Every kitchen is different, and every homeowner has different priorities, whether that is heat resistance, a particular colour match, a tight budget or an ambitious island design. Our job is to understand what matters to each customer and guide them to the right choice, not push the most expensive option.
Cawdor Stone Gallery in 2026
Today, in 2026, Cawdor Stone Gallery is a very different business from the one that started in 1986, but the values are the same.
We are proud to offer an extensive range of stone surfaces, from quartz and sintered stone to marble and granite, with virtually every colour, finish and price point a homeowner could need. Our fabrication capabilities have never been stronger, and our team brings decades of experience to every project.
This year we have some exciting things happening that we cannot wait to share. Our continued goal is simple: to be the most helpful, knowledgeable and trustworthy stone specialists you will deal with.
How We Are Marking 40 Years
The best way we are marking 40 years is to do what we have always done, only better:
- Welcome visitors with open arms to our showroom full of beautiful slabs and materials
- Help homeowners make informed decisions about their worktops, sharing our story and expertise through our content
- Continue to invest in our people, our equipment and the quality of every worktop we produce
Frequently Asked Questions About Cawdor Stone Gallery
When was Cawdor Stone Gallery founded?
Cawdor Stone Gallery was founded in 1986 as a stone fabrication business in Hertfordshire. In 2026 we are celebrating 40 years in the stone industry, with the same family-run focus on craftsmanship that started the business.
Where is Cawdor Stone Gallery’s showroom?
Our showroom is in Hertfordshire and opened to the public in 2003. It displays a wide range of full-size slabs in quartz, granite, marble, sintered stone and porcelain, viewed under natural light. Customers travel from across Hertfordshire and the wider Southeast (and often further) to see the surfaces in person before making a decision.
What stone worktops does Cawdor Stone Gallery supply?
Cawdor Stone Gallery supplies and fits quartz, granite, marble, sintered stone and porcelain worktops. We carry an extensive range of brands including Silestone, Caesarstone, Artemistone, Technistone, CRL Quartz, Compac, Cimstone, Dekton and many others. Our showroom holds one of the widest selections of slabs in the Southeast.
Does Cawdor Stone Gallery fit worktops outside Hertfordshire?
Yes. While our showroom is in Hertfordshire and we cover towns including St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Harpenden, Stevenage and Barnet, we regularly fit worktops across the Southeast and beyond. Many customers visit the showroom from further afield specifically to see the slabs in person before commissioning a fit.
Can you visit the Cawdor Stone Gallery showroom?
Yes, our Hertfordshire showroom is open for both walk-ins and appointments. Whether you want to browse materials, discuss a project or speak to one of our specialists, you are welcome to visit. Booking an appointment is recommended for in-depth project consultations so we can dedicate time to your specific kitchen.
Related blogs
40 Years in Stone: How Worktop Fabrication Has Changed Since 1986
Why Choose Cawdor Stone Gallery for your Quartz & Granite Worktops?
Living with Quartz Worktops: 7 Habits Every Owner Picks Up
Are Quartz Worktops Durable Enough for a Busy Kitchen?
Our Hertfordshire showroom is open for appointments and walk-ins. Whether you want to browse materials, discuss your project, or see what 40 years of stone expertise looks like up close, you are very welcome to visit.
About Cawdor Stone Gallery. A family-run stone specialist with 40 years of experience supplying and fitting quartz, granite, marble, sintered stone and porcelain worktops across Hertfordshire, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Harpenden, Stevenage, Barnet and the surrounding areas. Visit our showroom to see full-size slabs in person.
