265 years in the making
De Lank granite being lifted into position during construction of the original Severn Crossing, 1960s
The oldest active granite quarry in Britain
A historic Cornish granite quarry with a national reputation
The granite landscape around De Lank has shaped building in Cornwall for centuries. Churches, walls, bridges, farm buildings and historic structures across the region have long relied on hard local granite, valued for its strength, durability and resistance to weather.
De Lank Quarry’s documented record of notable projects stretches back more than 200 years. From its hillside above the River De Lank on Bodmin Moor, the quarry has supplied silver-grey Cornish granite for buildings, bridges, monuments, paving schemes and public realm works across the UK and beyond.
That record includes Eddystone Lighthouse, Thames Embankment, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Portcullis House, the Diana Memorial Fountain, the New US Embassy in London and many other historic and contemporary projects.
This is not simply a story of old stone. De Lank granite has proved itself in exposed coastal locations, tidal works, city streets, high-footfall public spaces and major architectural schemes. It is chosen not only for its appearance, but for its strength, consistency and long-term performance.
The quarry remains in the De Lank valley on Bodmin Moor. The source is known. The stone is proven. The standards remain high.
Back in the day
Archive footage of the quarry, its masons and the granite they cut by hand, including the lettering for London Bridge.
1759
Eddystone Lighthouse
De Lank granite is used to construct the Eddystone Lighthouse — the quarry's first internationally recognised commission, and a proof of the stone's unmatched durability.
View project →1759
Eddystone Lighthouse
De Lank granite is used to construct the Eddystone Lighthouse — the quarry's first internationally recognised commission, and a proof of the stone's unmatched durability.
View project →1811
Waterloo Bridge
One of London's earliest recorded uses of Cornish granite.
1811
Waterloo Bridge
One of London's earliest recorded uses of Cornish granite.
1864
Thames Embankment begins
The decade-long construction of the Victoria Embankment. De Lank granite lines one of Victorian London's most ambitious engineering achievements.
1864
Thames Embankment begins
The decade-long construction of the Victoria Embankment. De Lank granite lines one of Victorian London's most ambitious engineering achievements.
1882
New Eddystone Lighthouse
The present Eddystone Lighthouse is completed — again using De Lank granite.
View project →1882
New Eddystone Lighthouse
The present Eddystone Lighthouse is completed — again using De Lank granite.
View project →1887
Tower Bridge
Construction begins on Tower Bridge. De Lank is one of the Cornish quarries supplying granite for the towers, piers and river facing, work that still stands intact today.
1887
Tower Bridge
Construction begins on Tower Bridge. De Lank is one of the Cornish quarries supplying granite for the towers, piers and river facing, work that still stands intact today.
1977
Winston Churchill Statue Base
De Lank granite used for the base of the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square.
View project →1977
Winston Churchill Statue Base
De Lank granite used for the base of the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square.
View project →1999
Royal Opera House
De Lank granite is used in the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
1999
Royal Opera House
De Lank granite is used in the redevelopment of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
1999
Tower Bridge restoration
De Lank supplies the matching granite, maintaining the visual integrity of the original 1887 stone.
1999
Tower Bridge restoration
De Lank supplies the matching granite, maintaining the visual integrity of the original 1887 stone.
2001
Portcullis House
De Lank granite is used at Portcullis House, the parliamentary offices beside the Palace of Westminster.
2001
Portcullis House
De Lank granite is used at Portcullis House, the parliamentary offices beside the Palace of Westminster.
2003
Trafalgar Square
New steps, seat benches and paving for the redesigned Trafalgar Square.
View project →2003
Trafalgar Square
New steps, seat benches and paving for the redesigned Trafalgar Square.
View project →2004
Lady Diana Memorial
600 tonnes of De Lank granite for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park.
View project →2004
Lady Diana Memorial
600 tonnes of De Lank granite for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park.
View project →2007
Eden Project — Seed
Peter Randall-Page carves Seed, a monumental sculpture from a single 167 tonne block of De Lank granite, for the heart of the Eden Project Core building.
View project →2007
Eden Project — Seed
Peter Randall-Page carves Seed, a monumental sculpture from a single 167 tonne block of De Lank granite, for the heart of the Eden Project Core building.
View project →2011
New ownership
Adrian and Carina Phillips acquire De Lank through their family quarrying business, Black Mountain Quarries, founded in Wales in 2005 with sandstone won from beneath the family farm. They bring a hands-on, family-run approach and a commitment to traditional hand-dressing to Britain's oldest granite quarry, and begin a sustained programme of modernisation and investment.
View project →2011
New ownership
Adrian and Carina Phillips acquire De Lank through their family quarrying business, Black Mountain Quarries, founded in Wales in 2005 with sandstone won from beneath the family farm. They bring a hands-on, family-run approach and a commitment to traditional hand-dressing to Britain's oldest granite quarry, and begin a sustained programme of modernisation and investment.
View project →2014
Planning permission to 2050
Planning permission formally extended through to 2050, securing the quarry's operational future.
2014
Planning permission to 2050
Planning permission formally extended through to 2050, securing the quarry's operational future.
2016
US Embassy, Nine Elms
De Lank supplies over 1,000 linear metres of large-format flamed cladding for the new US Embassy — one of the most technically demanding commissions in the quarry's history.
View project →2016
US Embassy, Nine Elms
De Lank supplies over 1,000 linear metres of large-format flamed cladding for the new US Embassy — one of the most technically demanding commissions in the quarry's history.
View project →2017
Chelsea Barracks
Granite supplied across Phases 1-4 of the Chelsea Barracks redevelopment.
View project →2017
Chelsea Barracks
Granite supplied across Phases 1-4 of the Chelsea Barracks redevelopment.
View project →2017
Duchy of Cornwall — 40 years
A 40-year supply agreement with the Duchy of Cornwall for the Nansledan new town development.
View project →2017
Duchy of Cornwall — 40 years
A 40-year supply agreement with the Duchy of Cornwall for the Nansledan new town development.
View project →2018
Royal visit
The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, visits De Lank Quarry. The visit reflects the Duchy of Cornwall long association with the quarry, including the agreement to supply granite for the Nansledan development at Newquay.
View project →2018
Royal visit
The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, visits De Lank Quarry. The visit reflects the Duchy of Cornwall long association with the quarry, including the agreement to supply granite for the Nansledan development at Newquay.
View project →2020
Buckingham Palace
De Lank granite used for works at Buckingham Palace.
2020
Buckingham Palace
De Lank granite used for works at Buckingham Palace.
2025
Today
De Lank remains the only quarry in Cornwall extracting granite in quantities suitable for construction and masonry. 429,000 tonnes of consented reserves. Planning permission through to 2050.
2025
Today
De Lank remains the only quarry in Cornwall extracting granite in quantities suitable for construction and masonry. 429,000 tonnes of consented reserves. Planning permission through to 2050.
Ready to add your project to this record?
De Lank continues to supply architects and engineers for the projects that demand the highest standard.