GALLAGHER’S KENTISH RAGSTONE AN INTRODUCTION Gallagher is the last remaining company still actively quarrying Kentish Ragstone, the most widespread building stone used throughout the South East of England. It has been used as an attractive and functional stone across London and the South East for over two thousand years. Many historic buildings, such as Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Knole House and Leeds Castle in Kent, were built using Kentish Ragstone. To maintain the unique local character of the South East’s historic architecture, Gallagher’s Hermitage Quarry, located in Maidstone, Kent, supplies Kentish Ragstone building stone for restoration, conservation and new build projects. With its experienced team along with modern bespoke machinery and facilities, Gallagher is able to supply stone for repairs to historical buildings, thus ensuring that the repairs blend in with traditional Kentish Ragstone. It also supplies stone for new build projects. Dimensional Kentish Ragstone can be supplied to meet all clients’ specific requirements. Hermitage Quarry became operational in 1990 and since then has continually developed its processing techniques. Over recent years, bespoke methods have been developed with specific blast design principles employed to maximise the yield of high quality building stone and minimise the effects of ‘blast-induced’ fracturing within the stone. Stone is then carefully selected for its intended use, prior to processing by Gallagher’s primary cutting machinery within the quarry. Gallagher has recently invested in further specialist equipment including secondary saws, guillotines and stone tumbling machines, ensuring that it is able to meet all of its customers’ requirements. Gallagher Aggregates Ltd Tel: 01622 726262 Email: [email protected].