Memories from the West Country's granite quarries

Stonecutters’ sheds at De Lank Quarry, Cornwall, making foundations for the Tamar Bridge, late 1950s. Credit: Joy Armstrong

An exhibition which recalls the heyday of granite quarries in Devon and Cornwall is touring the south west.

Organised by Dr. Kayleigh Milden from Plymouth University, "Quarry Voices" has recorded memories of the men who worked in the quarries and photographs of the harsh conditions they lived in.

Granite from the quarries has been used in monuments like the Eddystone lighthouse,

the Princess Diana Memorial Stone and many of London's bridges.

Stonemason Hedley Methven at De Lank Quarry, working with sculptor Donald Potter on the Lord Baden Powell Monument, c1961. Credit: Margaret Methven and the St Breward History Group

The exhibition is showing at the following locations:

  • St.Breward Institute until Thursday

  • Tavistock Library, September 24th to October 15th

  • Ivybridge Library, October 17th to November 5th

  • Ottery St.Mary Parish Church, November 13th - 23rd

  • Sidmouth Church of St.Giles and St.Nicholas, November 24th to December 8th

  • Torquay Museum, December 10th to January 13th 2013

  • Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, January 15th to February 2nd.

One of the largest ‘benches’ ever blasted at Merrivale Quarry, Dartmoor, c1965. Credit: Heather Cooper

More details can be found on the Quarry Voices website.

And you can watch the full report by our Cornwall correspondent Steve Hardy here:

Moving stone from Beer Quarry Caves on a tramway, c1920. Credit: John Scott, Beer Quarry Caves