Lede Stone: A potential Global Heritage Stone Resource from Belgium

of Lede Stone in the built environment and would invigorate the importance of ongoing production.Lede Stone has long been used as a dimension stone for buildings, artwork and other constructions.The stone is closely associated with specific architectural styles and the socio-economic history of its source and application regions.It is strongly intertwined with the charming appearance of several historical centres of cities such as Ghent, Brussels, Bruges and many others.Despite existing active quarries, the introduction of alien stones as replacement can be seen as a threat to cultural heritage.This is an issue which has concerned specialists for more than a century.It may be addressed by the recognition of Lede Stone as a heritage stone of international significance.paper deals with requirements of its "Terms of Reference" and illustrates the stone's nature, technical properties, utilization and associated issues.It should contribute to the cultural appreciation and preservation of this stone.