Our Factories

Forticrete operates 7 manufacturing sites up and down the country giving us a truly nationwide coverage

Each site has its own unique history and manufacturing capabilities. Our sites blend traditional manufacturing methods with a highly skilled workforce and the most modern technology and machinery to create high quality, highly sustainable products.

As a responsible company, Forticrete recognises the impact of its operations and therefore takes into account the environmental aspects and ensures that they are directed towards a cleaner, safer and healthier environment. 

Leighton Buzzard

Our head office and the manufacturing home of the majority of the roofing range. Our products are used across almost all building sectors.  We support demand in UK housebuilding with core products for this sector such as our revolutionary SL8 roof tile and the Queens Award winning Gemini roof tile. For the Repair, Maintenance and Improvement sector, our Centurion Roof Tile is perfect as it is the only roof tile that can be laid at pitches as low as 10˚.

The Leighton Buzzard range is further strengthened by the ever popular Minislate, Senator and V2 product ranges. And to further complement our revolutionary SL8 roof tile in the next year we aim to ramp up production of our PAN8 roof tile – a pantile with the same unique characteristics as SL8 with wider dimensions than the average large format tile and an incredibly thin leading edge.

At Forticrete, we also understand that a roof is a system and all parts need to work well – so our Leighton Buzzard site also has manufacturing lines dedicated to providing the special fittings and detailing to make your roof look good and perform well.   To do this requires a mixture of the most modern product design and manufacturing capabilities mixed with traditional skills, experience and know how.

Stretton

The Stretton plant in Burton on Trent has been manufacturing the traditional Hardrow roof tile and all of its associated fittings and complementary products since 1961.  This relatively small manufacturing plant still employs approximately 20 staff and uses traditional methods to create this beautifully unique product.  Hardrow roof tiles are a beautiful, cost effective alternative to natural slate.  The product is particularly popular in the rural areas of the South West and North East as it complements walling stone houses particularly well. Hardrow is available in a vast range of colours, providing specifiers with a wealth of choice.  Hardrow is a product that improves with age - the first roof slated in Hardrow, that of a barn in North Yorkshire, still stands today having weathered nearly 90 years of Moorland winters.

Anstone

Our Anstone factory is truly steeped in history.  Situated in an old limestone quarry based in the village of Kiveton Park just on the outskirts of Rotherham , Sheffield and Worksop.  The date stone on the office block is for 1926.

The quarry itself is located in the area from which the stone for the Palace of Westminster / Houses of Parliament is believed to be originated from. The site has an old tunnel which was used to access the Chesterfield canal and then the River Trent to the North Sea to allow the journey to London.

The quarried stone is also believed to have been used when the M1 was constructed through the region.  Our Anstone site manufactures reconstructed walling stone in 8 colours, 8 sizes and 2 finishes (Split and Pitched) across 2 ranges Anstone and Premier. It is a cost effective alternative to natural walling stone, and the colours are to replicate regional vernaculars.  These products are particularly popular in New Housing schemes.  We also supply Builders Merchants with Anstone Walling.

Shearstone Midsomer Norton

Our other Walling Stone manufacturing site, the home of our Shearstone product is located in the village of Clapton, near Midsomer Norton in Somerset. 

The site started as a quarry in circa 1910 until the 1st World War when it was used as a tip. In approximately 1961 the site became Clapton Building Supplies and started making walling blocks.

In 1972 one of the owners (Tony McGreevy) opened a DIY store nearby using products from Clapton Building Supplies, this was ‘Great Mills’ which went on to have 98 stores before being sold to Focus DIY.

Mr McGreevy still owns the land on which Shearstone is situated.

Cebastone

Cebastone is located in Leicestershire and employs approximately 40 staff.  The site predominantly manufactures high quality, hand crafted architectural Cast Stone. Cebastone is a key supplier of Cast Stone into the UK housebuilding market.  Whilst products are also sold into Builders Merchants, via our Stone in Stock offering and also the architectural sector, where Cast Stone is used to elevate projects from good to excellent.  

Masoncrete

Our Forticrete Masoncrete site is located in South Darley, Derbyshire in the Heart of England.  The site focuses production on semi dry Caststone, Artstone, Quoins and Ashlar blocks and over the years has supplied many prestigious projects with beautiful, bespoke cast stone products.  

Masoncrete also uses a mixture of hand made and machine pressed processes to manufacture cast stone and is one of five Forticrete sites to achieve the prestigious Kitemark certification. 

Thornley

Located in Durham in the North East of England and employing approximately 40 staff, our Thornley factory specialises in the manufacture of Precast Concrete, Cast Stone and Masonry products.  Key customers for the site include Brick Factors, Builders Merchants and Major Contractors whilst the site also supports our sister Ibstock Kevington business with Precast manufacture - an area where we have excellent capabilities.

The architectural masonry manufactured at Thornley is some of the finest available, with Fairface, Splitface, Textured and Polished options available.  These products are particularly popular with architects looking for a unique, eye catching finish for their project. We are equally proud of the quality of our Cast Stone which is handcrafted in house by our highly skilled makers and joiners and has been specified on some truly outstanding projects.