Bath Stone
Park Lane Quarry
Ham and Doulting have now secured a new Bath stone mine in Neston, Wiltshire. It is called Park Lane Quarry. At present the mine covers some 26 acres and now, with a 1950's ROMP reactivated, we have permission for a further 200 acres giving huge reserves of stone and enabling H&D to cope with the largest of Bath Stone projects.
In 1880 Randell and Saunders started work at Park Lane Quarry. The mine itself is in remarkably good condition, partly due to very few people gaining access to it. One of the highlights of this mine is the stables; one of the best example of underground stables in the area. The floor is cobbled and the remains of a wooden stall are evident. Lots of "Cave Pearls" can be seen on the floor along with tiny stalactites on the roof. The mine closed briefly during World War One & Two and then was finally closed in the late sixties due to the lease expiring.
The quarry will hopefully be re-opening in the spring of 2011.
About Bath Stone
Bath Stone is an Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. Originally obtained from the Combe Down and Bathampton Down Mines under Combe Down, Somerset, England, its warm, honey colouring gives the World Heritage City of Bath, England its distinctive appearance. An important feature of Bath Stone is that it is a freestone, that is one that can be sawn or 'squared up' in any direction, unlike other rocks such as slate which forms distinct layers. * Ham & Doulting will be using a state of the art Fantini Chainsaw to extract the stone and with bed heights of up to 4ft (1200mm) high, we will be happy to supply Block, Scant or sawn six. Ham & Doulting also welcome customers to come and view the mine and see the quality of the stone but by prior appointment only!
History of Uses
Bath Stone has been used extensively as a building material throughout southern England for churches, houses and public buildings such as railway stations.
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Much of Bristol Cathedral was built of Bath Stone and the Wills Tower, which is the dominant feature of the Wills Memorial Building, is reinforced concrete faced with Bath and Clipsham stone.
Bath Stone was also favoured by architect Hans Price who designed much of 19th century Weston-super-Mare.