In recognition of his services to Henry VIII, Lord Cavendish, First Earl of Devonshire, was given the rights to quarry stone in the English Lake District. Initially, small groups of individuals worked in teams to extract stone by hand for building: it has been estimated over 50% of the stone quarried to date has been extracted that way.
In 1843 William Cavendish, Lord Burlington (later to become seventh Duke of Devonshire) brought together all the independent groups of quarrymen to form Burlington Slate Limited. The company is still owned by descendants of the Cavendish family.
Today, stone is cut from the quarry using diamond wires, a technique which is less damaging to the environment than the conventional process of blasting, and one with produces more usable material. Once extracted the stone is cut, shaped and finished by local craftsmen using both modern machinery and traditional techniques: our cleft or riven slates are still formed by the river working the stone along its natural grain.
Quality comes naturally with a material 400 million years in the making and in converting that natural material to modern building components Burlington operates an ISO 9002 Quality Assurance system.
Whatever the nature, size and location of the project Burlington has the experience, the facilities and the expertise to meet the most demanding requirements and can provide the guidance, technical advice and delivery schedules essential to the success of any project.
