Stone worktops in St Ives

The bridge with a chapel

St Ives grew up at a crossing of the Great Ouse. Its stone bridge was built between 1415 and 1426, with a chapel dedicated to St Leger standing on one of its piers. During the Civil War, in 1645, the two southern arches were taken down and replaced with a drawbridge. They were rebuilt in 1716 in a different shape, which is why the arches still don't match. The bridge is Grade I listed and a scheduled monument.

Living by the river

The river has flooded the town several times, in 1947, at Easter 1998 and in January 2003. Flood defences costing nearly £9 million were completed in 2007, including 500 metres of brick-clad steel piling at the Waits.

For kitchens near the water, stone and porcelain are good choices because they do not swell or delaminate when wet, as laminate on chipboard can. The cabinets underneath are usually chipboard, though, so it is worth keeping them in good condition.

Cromwell and the market

Oliver Cromwell lived at Old Slepe Hall in St Ives from 1631 to 1636, and his bronze statue by F. W. Pomeroy has stood in the town since 1901. The weekly cattle market was once said to be second only to Smithfield in London; a street market still runs on Mondays and Fridays.

Planning your worktops

Send a sketch with rough sizes, a few photos and your postcode through the quote form. If you are in one of the older buildings near the river or the Broadway, tell us about the access and the floor the kitchen is on.