Lovell Purbeck, the company formed in 2009 when the Hart family took over the Purbeck quarries of D&P Lovell, has purchased the business of Chicksgrove Quarries Ltd from the Collins family.

The move adds Chicksgrove limestone and Hurdcott Green sandstone, both from Wiltshire, to the Lovell Purbeck stable.

Lovell Purbeck also owns the Blue and White Lias limestone Bowdens Quarry in Somerset, which it bought from Ham & Doulting Stone Ltd in 2011.

Lovell Purbeck Director James Hart told NSS that Chicksgrove quarries has substantial reserves of the historic high quality Chicksgrove limestone as well as good reserves of the much sought after Hurdcott Green Sandstone. “The addition of these historic stones to our portfolio builds on our company’s philosophy of growing a heritage stone business.”

Chicksgrove stone is perhaps most famously used for the ongoing restoration of Salisbury Cathedral. It was also supplied for the high profile restoration of Westminster Abbey Chapter House carried out by Nimbus Conservation in 2009/10 and is specified for restoration work at Rochester Cathedral. It is an approved match for Kentish Ragstone, Reigate Stone, Malmstone and Clunch and was used in the restoration of Hampton Court Palace last year to replace Reigate Stone.

Stone from Lovell Purbeck’s new quarries will be processed both at Chicksgrove’s own processing yard, where Lovell Purbeck plan to make a substantial investment, and at Lovell Purbeck’s extensive and well-equipped factory. Some of the stone will be processed on the new 300m²-a-week tile line on Purbeck that Lovell Purbeck opened last year.

Chilmark limestone is used as building stone, ashlar, flooring and paving. Hurdcott is less commonly specified and is used largely as building stone. It was used to build a visitor centre at Brading Church on the Isle of Weight and for restoration at Donhead Hall in Shaftsbury.

Lovell Purbeck Director James Hart says the company is so busy that it has this month (March) recruited two new people to work at Purbeck and is actively looking for more at all three of its operations (see the jobs advertisements at the back of this issue).

The investment by Lovell Purbeck reflects the company’s optimism for the future. James: “I have spoken to a number of people in the industry and everyone is seeing a bit of an upturn – it does seem as if some people are getting busy again. We cover the spectrum from housebuilding to conservation and even housebuilders are busy – we are currently flat out on the production of our various building stone products from all three quarries.”