11/10/2026
🌍🪨 Portsoy Marble - without this local stone, we wouldn’t exist!
Despite its name, Portsoy Marble isn’t actually marble. It’s a beautiful local form of serpentine, found around Portsoy and instantly recognisable for its rich red or deep green colours and distinctive vein like patterns.
Many years ago, this unusual stone was quarried in Portsoy and traded by the Ogilvies of Boyne, who held the barony and lands of Portsoy. The Ogilvies built the Old Harbour in 1693 to support the transportation of Portsoy Marble overseas, including to France, Poland, Canada and the USA.
Marble pieces were worked and polished to create decorative pieces, jewellery and architectural features, with many items still found across the world today.
In later years, Tom Burnett-Stuart's dedication to Portsoy Marble saw the establishment of Portsoy Marble Shop. Local stonemasons were hired to work alongside Tom, creating jewellery, small trinkets and artefeacts, which were showcased across the UK and made their way across the globe.
Portsoy Marble is no longer quarried. The stores of this stone held currently are all that remain of a once booming international stone trade industry.
This seems like the perfect time to celebrate the remarkable geology beneath our feet and the local stone that has become such an important part of Portsoy’s story. 💙
Pop into the shop and discover Portsoy Marble for yourself.
