Taking over the operation of the Elm Park Bath stone mine that gave Ian Butterworth his introduction to the natural stone industry provided a significant boost to his business and quickly became his biggest selling stone.

He took over the operation of the mine at the end of 2005, a year after he set up Wessex Dimensional Stone to take over the operation of Chilmark Mine and Hurdcott Greensand stone quarry, and rapidly took a stand at the Natural Stone Show 2006 at ExCeL London to promote it.

Ian had been the South Division Engineering Manager of Tarmac before branching out on his own in 2000. Elm Park mine gave him his introduction to the dimensional stone industry when he was contracted as a consultant there by the previous operators. His conviction was that there was greater demand for the stone than there was supply of it. It was the same conviction that had interested him in taking over the Chilmark mine. And he has been correct on both counts, with sales growing so fast that his anticipation from the recession is simply less growth rather than decline.

He likes the idea of mining because it has an even smaller impact on the environment than quarrying.

He believes that dimensional stone production will eventually go the way of aggregates, consolidating into the hands of perhaps six major operators that dominate the market. He believes that will give it the resources it currently lacks to compete on equal marketing terms against “more energy hungry building materials”.