A new company called Historic Horsham Stone has started supplying Horsham limestone as flagstones, roofing and walling.

The stone is coming from a new quarry, called Theale, at Lower Broadwich Farm, where it is extracted by landowner Ivor Warren, who has extracted the stone previoulsy from his land and was aware of the resource. It is transported to Historic Horsham Stone\'s yard at Barnsgreen, Horsham.

Historic Horsham Stone are run by Simon Stainer, who has previously supplied reclaimed stone and has his own roofing business - "So I understand how restricted supply is," he says.

Now in his 40s, he says he has made his money in demolition and reclamation, pest control and his roofing business and wanted to develop the stone business because "it\'s a passion". He says: "We are starting to lose so many roofs locally now."

He is producing walling using a Snell cropper, but has now also invested in a Gregori saw, currently being commissioned, and has recruited two masons who previously worked on Purbeck.

Simon says they have already received a big order for roofing stone on a private mansion damaged by fire. English Heritage, who as a matter of policy use newly quarried stone in preference to recycled materials, have approved the stone for the project.

Simon says he has already taken 700-800 tonnes of stone from the quarry and that although he is selling cropped walling at around £350 a tonne, which represents a premium on other walling stones, he has had no shortage of takers. Roofing is selling for about £1,600 a roofing square.

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