Ashford Marble

Ashford Black Marble is a dark limestone quarried from an area near Ashford-in-the-Water in Derbyshire, England. It is not a true marble but a very fine-grained limestone which can be turned and polished to give a highly decorative black shiny surface.

Using a technique known as pietra dura, it can be cut and inlaid with other decorative stones and minerals. There is model of Ecton Hill made from Ashford Black Marble and other minerals in Derby Museum.