The reason for its existent stretches back through to the geology of the area millions of years ago when this part of Sussex (and Kent) was covered with swamp which was inhabited by freshwater.
The Winklestone is also known as Sussex Marble, Petworth Marble, Bethersden Marble and Laughton Stone. It is a fossiliferous freshwater limestone material which is prevalent in the Weald Clay of parts of Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex in southeast England.
The quarries of this unique stone ran out many, many years ago and it is no longer easily obtained.