When Clipsham Quarry Company held an open day at its quarry in Oakham, Rutland, last month (July) it took the opportunity to introduce Clipsham Stone Products, a new business it has established to bring stone into the home and to attract a different customer to Clipsham Stone.

The quarry visit was part of a ‘Stone Day’ Clipsham Quarry Company ran in collaboration with the local Olive Branch Pub in Clipsham, where lunch was served on Clipsham stone trivets that form part of the new range of products being sold under the name of Clipsham Stone Products.

The Stone Day started with coffee and Danish pastries (well, you have to, don’t you) at the pub followed by a tour of the famous limestone quarry in a convoy of vehicles.

MD Sue Thomas says: “We showed our guests the SSSI [site of special scientific interest] where we have rare and wonderful plants, and the waste heaps of great geomorphological interest, before going on to see blockstone being extracted.

“Our guests were particularly interested in the way we split the blocks using plugs and feathers and we explained that we never blast the blockstone.” says Sue.

As the sun was shining, the guests were able to leave the vehicles and walk around the quarry to see the different sizes of block being extracted, as well as taking a close look at the shells and fossils found in the stone and the crystals that make Clipsham stone look as though it is riven with diamonds.

“The stone does sparkle beautifully in the sunshine,” says Sue.

After the quarry visit some of the guests returned to the pub to have their thirst quenched with the famous ‘Clipsham Cooler’ (a fruit juice mix with just a splash of gin for those not driving and so inclined).

Following an excellent lunch cooked by award winning chef Sean Hope and served on Clipsham Stone trivets, the hosts gave their guests a little ‘take-away’ of Olive Branch chocolates and a Clipsham Stone coaster.

Clipsham Stone Products is a new company seeking to bring stone into the home and to attract new customers to Clipsham Stone.

Sue: “We use the famous stone to make home and garden wares – we are currently selling lamps, platters, hotplates, trivets and coasters. They are stocked at Snow Interiors & Designs in Stamford, the Olive Branch in Clipsham and will be available online shortly.”

She says she hopes to hold more stone days this summer… “provided the weather allows!”