This years field visit was split over two dates in September due to the high demand for places to such a fascinating site. On both occasions the groups were given a very informative tour of the working underground quarry by site manager Shahram Hakinzadeh and his team.

Shahram had given the branch a very interesting technical presentation on Dimension Stone Quarrying in the area back in July and this led to twenty two people attending the visits. As the site safety rules would only allow six visitors at a time when working, we had to take two groups when the quarry was not working. As you can imagine safety is extremely important underground where every situation has to be treated within a confined space and potentially within darkness. Before proceeding down to the faces the groups were kitted out with full safety belts, carrying lights and breathing apparatus, and we were shown a plan of the site as it works its way under the village of Corsham.

Photo: Field Trip, Hanson Bath Stone Quarry Hartham Park

It was very interesting to see how the previous quarryman, from the 1800`s onwards, had taken as much of the reserve as possible and had left some fairly small support pillars whereas today's factors of safety leave much more substantial columns of stone as supports.

Once underground the change in environment was complete and the working conditions were somewhat different to what the majority of us were used to. When asked to turn out our lights at one point we were in total darkness, this certainly highlighted the need for constant awareness of safety throughout the mine. To find your way out from this labyrinth of tunnels would be difficult enough with good light but in total darkness most agreed it would be near impossible!

There were many visible signs of what was once a very physically demanding occupation when all of the stone was won by hand and it was difficult to imagine spending all day in such conditions hammering, sawing, and winching large, heavy blocks of Bath stone with little or no mechanical intervention. The need for gyms and personal trainers had not yet arrived!

Today electric rigs are used to cut the blocks from the faces and all were very impressed by the lack of noise and dust coming from the machine that we saw working. All of the machines used underground are also serviced and maintained within the mine.

As we were led through the underground maze the conditions began to change, we noticed that the floors had smooth concrete screeds, the walls were whitewashed and there were signs of abundant lighting and welfare facilities, we were now into the MOD section of the site. This had been occupied by the MOD after its requisition during the Second World War up until the early 1990`s and had been used as a munitions store. It was very interesting to see the difference in funds that the various Governments had to spend on the site compared to business!

The quarry had gone been closed in the 1960`s due to the extensive use of concrete instead of natural stone and it was not until 1999 that Hanson Bath and Portland Stone secured the long term lease to extract the stone again and make it once more available to the traditional Bath Stone Market where it has been used on many prestigious projects such as the Queen Gallery in Buckingham Palace.

The West of England Branch would like to thank all those involved at Hanson Bath & Portland Stone for making this trip possible.

Kevin Sargant (Branch Ex Officio)