STONE LIFTING IN LONDON
BRINGING ANCIENT STRENGTH TO THE CITY AT THE WORLD FAMOUS COMMANDO TEMPLE IN DEPTFORD, SOUTH EAST LONDON
London Stone Lifting is a natural stone lifting community and coaching hub based at the Commando Temple in Deptford, South East London. We teach beginners and experienced strength athletes how to lift stones, train traditional stone-lifting techniques and prepare for historic lifting stones around Britain and Ireland.
TRY STONELIFTING IN LONDON
The easiest way to get started is the Stone Club at the Commando Temple in Deptford.
Set up by coaches Ben Waters and Charlie Clay - It's an open session dedicated to natural stone lifting, with coaching, challenges and a collection of stones ranging from accessible beginner lifts to some of the heaviest and most awkward stones in the gym.
You don't need any previous stone lifting experience. If you've never touched a natural stone before, we'll show you how to get started.
FIRST SESSION IS FREE
ANCIENT STRENGTH IN THE HEART OF LONDON
Stonelifting is one of the oldest traditions of strength in the world.
Cultures across Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, the Basque Country and beyond haved been using natural stones to test resilience, capability, and character long before modern gyms existed.
At London Stonelifting, we’re proud to bring this ancient practice into the heart of the city, giving people the chance to experience a raw and authentic form of strength training rooted in history and community. Whether you’re an experienced lifter or completely new to strength sports, stonelifting offers a unique challenge that connects people to a tradition that has endured for centuries.
STONE LIFTING AT THE COMMANDO TEMPLE
The Commando Temple in Deptford is home to a unique collection of natural lifting stones, ranging from smaller stones for learning technique to seriously challenging tests of strength.
Shape, balance, texture, width and centre of mass all change how a stone needs to be approached. A stone can be smooth and slippery, rough and aggressive, beautifully balanced or seemingly designed not to be lifted at all.
The collection is used for Stone Club, private coaching and the Commando Temple Stone Gauntlet — seven increasingly difficult stone lifting challenges culminating in the 203kg Mosasaurus Stone.
THE COMMANDO TEMPLE STONE GAUNTLET
Seven stones. Seven challenges.
The Commando Temple Stone Gauntlet is a series of natural stone lifting challenges created by London Stone Lifting to test different aspects of real-world strength.
The stones range from the 76kg Wickstone, which must be pressed overhead, through shouldering, carrying and chest lifts, to Delilah — a smooth 183kg natural stone — and finally the 203kg Mosasaurus Stone, lifted one-handed by its iron ring.
Every stone presents a different problem. Completing the Gauntlet means finding a way to solve all seven.
YOUR COACH : BEN WATERS
London Stone Lifting was founded by strength coach and natural stone lifter Ben Waters.
Ben has more than 15 years of coaching experience and specialises in natural stones, awkward objects and traditional tests of strength. Along with Charlie Clay, Ben set up Stone Club at the Commando Temple, created the Commando Temple Stone Gauntlet and has lead tours across Britain and Ireland lifting natural and historic lifting stones.
His stone lifting has also taken strength outside the gym, including public demonstrations in Trafalgar Square in central London.
The aim of London Stone Lifting is simple: keep the tradition of lifting stones alive, make it accessible to new lifters and give people the skills and confidence to take their strength beyond the gym.
YOUR COACH : CHARLIE CLAY
Charlie Clay started and runs the Stone Club alongside Ben Waters and has a background in rugby and competitive strongman.
A highly experienced strength athlete, Charlie has played an important role in developing the stone lifting culture at the Commando Temple. Each year he helps pioneer new stones and challenges through the Commando Temple's Strongest Man competition, regularly putting natural stones at the heart of the events.
His combination of strongman experience, practical knowledge and enthusiasm for finding new ways to test strength makes him an integral part of Stone Club.
1-TO-1 STONELIFTING COACHING IN LONDON
Want to learn stone lifting away from a group session, work on a particular lift or prepare for a historic lifting stone?
Private stone lifting coaching is available at the Commando Temple in Deptford.
Sessions can cover picking, lapping, shouldering, carrying and loading natural stones, as well as grip, positioning and the specific techniques needed to deal with heavy, awkward and irregular objects.
Complete beginners are welcome, as are experienced strength athletes looking to take their stone lifting further.
STONELIFTING BEYOND THE GYM
Natural stone lifting belongs outside.
London Stone Lifting regularly travels beyond the Commando Temple to lift stones in the landscapes they come from — from historic lifting stones to the rocks, boulders and awkward pieces of stone found across Britain and Ireland.
These trips are part strength challenge, part exploration. Different geology creates completely different lifting problems, while weather, uneven ground, sand, mud and rain can transform even a seemingly simple stone.
Our stories document the stones, places and lessons learned along the way.
LOCATION
London Stone Lifting is based at the Commando Temple in Deptford, South East London.
Commando Temple
Resolution Way
Deptford
London
SE8 4NT
The gym is easily accessible by public transport, with Deptford railway station and Deptford Bridge DLR nearby. We're also within easy reach of Greenwich, New Cross, Lewisham and central London.
Stone Club runs every Monday, with private stone lifting coaching available separately.
1-TO-1 STONELIFTING FAQ
-
No. Stone lifting isn't only about lifting enormous rocks. The Commando Temple has stones of different sizes and weights, and beginners can learn the basic positions and techniques before progressing to heavier challenges.
-
Yes. You don't need previous stone lifting or strongman experience. Stone Club is open to people who want to learn, and coaching is available during the session.
-
London Stone Lifting runs Stone Club every Monday at the Commando Temple in Deptford, South East London. Private stone lifting coaching is also available.
-
Natural stone lifting is the practice of lifting irregular stones rather than manufactured equipment such as barbells or Atlas stones. Because every stone has a different shape, balance and texture, each presents its own strength and technique challenge.
-
Normal gym clothing is fine. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dusty or marked and footwear that gives you a stable base. You don't need specialist stone lifting equipment to get started.
-
Yes. One-to-one sessions are available at the Commando Temple for beginners, experienced lifters and anyone preparing for particular stone lifting challenges.
COME AND LIFT STONES
Experience natural stone lifting for yourself at the Commando Temple in Deptford, London.