An iconic piece of Icelandic strength history has found a new home at The Commando Temple in Deptford.
We're incredibly excited to announce the arrival of a 160kg replica of the legendary Húsafell Stone, now permanently housed at The Commando Temple and available to train with through London Stone Lifting.
This is a particularly special addition to our collection, and one that has been made possible by the generosity and enthusiasm of our stone-lifting community.
A Legendary Stone
The original Húsafell Stone, known as Kvíahellan (the Pen Slab), is one of the most famous lifting stones in the world.
Located in western Iceland, the stone originally served as the gate to a livestock pen built in the 18th century by Reverend Snorri Björnsson.
Over time, it became a celebrated test of strength, with lifters attempting to pick up the enormous, awkwardly shaped slab and carry it around the perimeter of the sheep pen without putting it down.
Completing the challenge is traditionally associated with the title Fullsterkur, meaning 'full strength'.
Today, Húsafell is a pilgrimage destination for stone lifters from around the world, and the challenge remains one of the most iconic feats in traditional strength culture.
A Faithful Replica, Made by Atlas Endurance
Our new stone was created by Atlas Endurance, whose specialist craftsmanship has supplied stones for some of the world's biggest strength competitions.
Rather than simply producing a similarly shaped concrete block, the replica has been carefully sculpted to reproduce the dimensions and distinctive characteristics of the original Húsafell Stone.
From its irregular shape to the textures, scratches and imperfections across its surface, an extraordinary amount of attention has gone into recreating the experience of handling the original.
A mould is taken from the sculpture and used to cast the finished stone in concrete.
Weighing 160kg, it's an incredibly faithful representation of the original, which has been recorded at approximately 157kg in specialist lifting-stone archives.
And now it's here in Deptford!
A Stone for the Community
This acquisition was made possible through donations from eight members of our stone-lifting community:
Ben Waters, Charlie Clay, Darragh Ayres, Hugh Mulhern, Oli Bellas, Morgan Cowper and Shaun Fray.
It's a brilliant example of what London Stone Lifting is all about.
Our club has always been built around a shared enthusiasm for traditional strength, unusual challenges and the history behind the stones themselves.
Bringing something like this into the gym isn't just about adding another piece of equipment. It's about creating opportunities for people to experience a little piece of lifting history, challenge themselves and share in something that means a great deal to our community.
We marked its arrival with an unveiling and lifting session, bringing everyone together to get their hands on the stone, figure out its peculiar shape and have a first dig at it.
It was a fantastic occasion, and we're enormously grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.
Preparing for Iceland
The timing couldn't be better.
A group of London Stone Lifting members are planning a trip to Iceland next year, with the original Húsafell Stone firmly on the itinerary.
Having this replica at our disposal gives us an incredible opportunity to prepare for the challenge.
The Húsafell Stone is unlike a barbell or a conventional strongman implement. Its irregular shape makes the initial pick-up, securing the load and carrying it all distinct challenges.
With our replica, we can spend time learning its balance, developing technique and building the specific strength required to carry it.
And while nothing can quite replicate the experience of standing beside the original stone in Iceland, we now have the next best thing right here in London.
Come and Train With the Húsafell Stone
One of the most exciting things about bringing this stone to The Commando Temple is being able to share it with other lifters.
Whether you're preparing for a trip to Iceland, interested in traditional stone lifting, or simply want to experience one of strength culture's most famous challenges, London Stone Lifting is the place to do it.
You don't need to be an experienced strongman or capable of lifting 160kg to get involved.
Our Stone Club welcomes people of different abilities and backgrounds, with a wide range of lifting stones and other implements available to develop your strength and technique.
The Húsafell replica is the latest addition to a growing collection of unusual and historic lifting challenges at The Commando Temple.
We're incredibly proud to have it here, and even more excited to see what our community achieves with it over the coming months and years.
A legendary stone. A shared effort. A new chapter for London Stone Lifting.
And this is only the beginning.
Interested in training with the Húsafell Stone?
Join us at London Stone Lifting, based at The Commando Temple in Deptford, South East London.
Get in touch to find out more about Stone Club, our lifting sessions and how you can get involved.