Yorkshire has played more of a part in the UK’s defenses than you might imagine with stone quarried in the suburbs of Leeds providing us all with a rock steady peace of mind.
Yorkshire has played more of a part in the UK’s defenses than you might imagine with stone quarried in the suburbs of Leeds providing us all with a rock steady peace of mind.
There can be no finer example of this than four man made forts constructed in the Solent waters between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Built to defend Portsmouth from seaborne attack, the first ‘Spitbank’ fort, now a luxury hotel, was finished in 1878. The St Helens, No Mans Land and Horse Sand forts appeared soon after.
Bramley Fall stone, currently quarried at the Mone Brothers’ owned Blackhill Quarry in Bramhope, played a big part in the construction of the forts.
Mone Brothers’ director Kevin Mone commented: “Bramley Fall sandstone proved to be a distinctive and practical solution for the Solent forts.
“A Namurian sandstone, Bramley Fall is a moderately coarse-grained stone of the millstone grit formation. It is found in large blocks at our Blackhill Quarry and has become a perfect fit for civil engineering projects, especially those in contact with water.
“Originally sourced from a now disused quarry hidden away in woodlands at Bramley’s Fall Park, it is derived from a seam that stretches north from Leeds to Wharfedale.
“The forts in the Solent are an apt reminder of how this region’s material resources have helped to shape our landscape and heritage,” added Kevin.
