Lovell Purbeck, the company set up to take over Lovell’s Purbeck quarry in 2009, have now purchased Bowdens Quarry, Somerset, from Ham & Doulting Stone Ltd. Bowdens Quarry is believed to have the only consented reserve of White Lias limestone in the UK, as well as significant reserves of Blue and Grey Lias.
Simon Hart, Managing Director of Lovell Purbeck, told NSS: “Until now, demand for White Lias has had to be largely satisfied by the use of reclaimed White Lias or Blue Lias as an alternative.
“We were looking to expand our portfolio of British limestones and jumped at the opportunity to acquire Bowdens Quarry, guaranteeing an on-going supply of this high quality, sought after stone.
“Ideal for masonry work, it is suited to decorative applications as well as building, flooring, walling and even pedestrian paving, so we hope to bring Lias limestone back to the marketplace as an accessible and realistic natural stone option.”
Blue and White Lias have both been traditionally and predominantly used as building stone across the South, South West and parts of the Midlands.
A new haul road will be constructed at Bowdens Quarry, which is near Langport, that will ensure traffic to and from the site will cause minimal disruption to the local residents and environment.
As a hard and durable natural stone, Lias is perfect for sawn products, particularly flooring.
The depth and quality of the stone beds also means that Lovell Purbeck are able to cut and then transport Blue and White Lias blockstone from Bowdens Quarry to Lovell Purbeck’s sawing works at Langton Matravers, where it will be processed by the new state-of-the-art tile line there.
A sustainable processing operation will be established at Bowdens Quarry later this year, using electricity generated by Photovoltaic (PV) cells fitted to the roof of the processing and cutting workshop. Electricity not consumed by the company will be exported back to the National Grid. The company are also intending to collect, harvest and recycle rainwater.
Simon Hart’s first involvement with stone quarrying was to buy into Forest of Dean Stone Firms, where Pennant sandstone is now being processed using a micro hydrogeneration plant that was switched on earlier this year (you can read about that on page 36).
The installation of new guillotines and finishing equipment at Bowdens Quarry will enable Lovell Purbeck to offer a consistent and commercial supply of the Lias limestone, including the White Lias.
The Lias will be offered in addition to the Purbeck limestone that Lovell Purbeck quarry from the Dorset island. Purbeck is traditionally used for building, walling, roof tiling, paving and hard-landscaping. It has been used throughout Southern England since Roman times and more recently has been used on projects in Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey and Poundbury, Dorchester.
Lovell Purbeck have also obtained planning permission to quarry significant reserves of Viviparus (Purbeck Marble) and Burr limestone. Purbeck Marble was widely used in medieval times for decorative works and can today be seen in many ecclesiastical buildings, including Salisbury and Ely Cathedrals, while Burr limestone was used to build Corfe Castle, a 1,000 year-old castle rising above the Isle of Purbeck. Until now, both materials have been difficult to obtain.
Lovell Purbeck have installed a new primary saw, secondary saw, flame texturing equipment, guillotines and a filter press on Purbeck, helping their stonemasons to produce a wide range of masonry products.