Cobblestone Types

Naturally Occurring Cobblestones

• There are two types of naturally occurring cobblestones: fieldstone and lake-washed cobbles. Deposited in the soil or body of water by the movement and melting of glaciers, naturally occurring cobblestones are generally sandstone, limestone or gneiss. Fieldstones cobbles, often a byproduct of agriculture, are rough and amorphous, bearing no standardized shape; while lake-washed cobbles, also referred to as water-worn, are generally round and smooth due to the continual movement of water over the surface.

Manufactured Cobblestones

• Manufactured cobbles are stones quarried or formed for the purpose of paving, landscaping and architecture. The type of stone commonly quarried for cobblestones is granite, due to its natural cleavage and resistance to wear. Manufactured granite cobblestones are often uniform in size, angular and available in colors such as gray, black and varying shades of red. A manufactured granite cobble is generally 4 inches, a size determined best for the footfalls of horses. Brick cobbles are another type of manufactured cobblestone, composed of clay or shale and fired in kilns.

Road-Paving Cobblestones

• The use of cobblestones for paving roadways is a practice that has been in existence since antiquity. Ancient Roman roads served as a model for successive generations, spreading throughout Europe and taken to the American colonies in the 17th century. Referred to as both cobblestone and stone-block, the majority of roads in 18th and 19th century America utilized both naturally occurring and manufactured granite cobbles. Many examples of these roads remain today, such as the fieldstone cobbled roads found in the historic district of downtown Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Architectural and Landscaping Cobblestones

• Architectural and landscaping cobbles are the most common type of stones sold today. Cobbles, with their many shapes and styles, are versatile decorating materials, used for everything from exterior facades, courtyards and walkways to fireplaces and chimneys. Fieldstone cobbles are common architectural features in New York and New England, with a history dating back to European origins. For example, the small fieldstone church St. Andrews by the Sea, located atop Sunset Hill in Hyannisport, Massachusetts, gets it name and cobbled façade from the original St. Andrews in Scotland.