AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tomlinson Bousfield, of Sussex Place,
Loughborough Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey, for the Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE."-
Sealed the 2nd December 1856, and dated the 29th September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th September 1856.
I, GEORGE TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Sussex Place, Loughborough Road,
Brixton, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE," to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists in a composition of matter to be used as a substitute
for stone and bricks for building and engineering purposes. For this purpose
I take of ordinary chalk from 80 to 85 parts, and of slaked lime from 15 to
20 parts, by measure. I do not confine the proportions within these limits,
but believe them to be best. The ingredients are well pulverized and mixed
together, with sufficient water to give the proper consistency for moulding.
The paste thus produced is then moulded with a proper degree of pressure, to
cause the particles to adhere together into any form suitable to the purposes
designed. After coming from the moulds, the blocks or tiles are allowed to

page_text: dry a few days in the open air, and are then ready for use. No burning,
heating, or other mode of drying is required! The blocks will be found to
possess a degree of compactness and firmness resembling stone, which increases
indefinitely with age, and if. their ingredients are pure, will rival marble in
whiteness and beauty.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Tomlinson Bousfield in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
TOMLINSON BOUSFIELD, of Sussex Place, Loughborough Road, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent, Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her-Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day. of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six; in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto, me, the
said George Tomlinson Bousfield,. Her special licence that I, the said, George
Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter, during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and, vend, within. the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an. Invention for
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL STONE," a communica-
tion, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Tomlinson
Bousfield, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in a composition of matter to be used as a substitute
for stone and bricks for building and engineering purposes.
,

page_text: For this purpose I take of ordinary chalk from 80 to 85 parts, and of
slaked lime from 15 to 20 parts, by measure. I do not confine the proportions
within these limits, but believe them to be best. The ingredients are well
pulverized and mixed together, with sufficient water to give the proper con-
sistency for moulding. The paste thus produced is then moulded with a proper
degree of pressure to cause the particles to adhere together into any form
suitable to the purposes designed. After coming from the moulds, the blocks
or tiles are allowed to dry a few days in the open air, and are then ready for
No burning, heating, or other mode of drying is required. The blocks
will be found to possess a degree of compactness and firmness resembling stone,
which increases indefinitely with age, and if their ingredients are pure, will
rival marble in whiteness and beauty.
What I claim as the Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,
is, the composition of chalk and slaked lime in the proportions specified, or
thereabout, thereby producing a substitute for stone and bricks for building
and other purposes, in the manner described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Tomlinson Bousfield, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
W. CUSTHWAITE,
Brixton, Surrey.
GEO. T. BOUSFIELD. (L.s.)