Company histories can be clouded by the passage of time and changes of ownership. In fact it was only when a client suggested she did some research on the business that the management of Abingdon Stone and Marble discovered it was far older than originally thought.

Managing director Mike Harris said: “We had thought the business had been founded in 1846, but she discovered papers dating back to 1780.

“That makes Abingdon Stone and Marble one of the oldest companies in the country in this line of business.”

This line covers both exterior and interior stonework on private houses and on public buildings, together with stone memorials.

“For many years, the majority of the work was on memorials — it used to be about 70 per cent,” explained Mr Harris.

“But in recent years the division has been more like 60 to 40 per cent.”

The company’s own research has shown that its ownership has been in various families over the past two centuries. From the 1920s until the 1970s, it was run by Fred Buffett, who was joined as a business partner by Ernie Welch.

When both retired, Mr Harris, who had been working for the company on a freelance basis, began to take over.

“Fred asked if I would like to take over from him, but I was reluctant for him to give up his day-to-day work altogether, because I liked the idea of working alongside him,” Mr Harris said. “Fred continued to be involved until he was 81.”

The company has a permanent staff of eight, who are joined by contractors on various aspects of its work.

A significant area concerns the restoration of memorials and tombstones which deteriorate over time and can spark health and safety concerns.

“Local councils have become very health and safety conscious," Mr Harris said.

“We feel their stance is erring far too much on the cautious side. When you have been dealing with memorials for so many years you know all about them. The health and safety people seem to invent reasons why stones could be dangerous.

“Straightening is normally a very simple process. A stone is going to move over time because the earth is constantly shifting and it is impossible to guarantee stability.

“Light and sandy soil is probably the worst type, clay is much more stable.”

The other problem that develops over time is the wearing away of memorial inscriptions.

“Incised lettering is by far the most permanent, “ said Mr Harris.“It is best to choose a really hard stone and have it incised.”

The paint on lettering can wear over time, particularly towards the lower edges of the stone where rain can splash up.

Lead-infilling of inscriptions is no longer used because of the toxicity. This was never a popular job for masons according to Mr Harris, as it required patience to keep the lead in place while working on the lettering.

The types of stone most widely used are sandstone, limestone and slate along with unpolished granite.

When clients are deciding on the style of a memorial, there are various churchyard stipulations with which it has to comply.

“Diocesan regulations here and elsewhere seem to be becoming more and more stringent,” said Mr Harris.

“There is still a certain amount of variety allowed but the memorial stones need to confirm to size and in width and height, and be only of natural stone.

"This has to be British stone, with no polished marble or granite and the stone may also have to be complementary to that of the church building.”

Its situation in a graveyard can also affect the condition of a memorial — being under trees means more algae is likely to develop.

Whatever the situation, Mr Harris recommends a five-yearly check.

While there are limitations on materials for memorials, for the other work the company undertakes the range is much more extensive and can come from all over the world including China, Italy, South Africa and North and South America.

A recent delivery has been eight slabs of marble for a major project which the company is undertaking for a client in London.

“The company works at locations all over the country,” said Mr Harris.

"We have done memorial work in Darlington recently, and undertaken projects in other parts of the north of England.”

The interior work includes decorative fireplaces, bathrooms, flooring and vanity units for which all types of stone can be used.

Outdoors products include garden seating and tables along with ornamental birdbaths. Mr Harris recently enjoyed working on a slate table to which he added carving.

He began his own career with a seven-year apprenticeship at a company in Oxford, although that has been reduced to four years for today’s apprentices.

And Mr Harris is full of praise for his own apprentices.

He said: “Once my initial reaction to taking on a couple of young workers would have been ‘you must be joking.’ But there are some young people who take a real interest in their work which is reassuring.”

However, the next generation won’t be taking over from Mr Harris in the near future.

Despite being 65, he has no thoughts of retiring. He said: “I have always been a positive person. It is the work that drives me.

“This is a physical job and it keeps me active."