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Visit

The Stone Federation recommends that the design team and the client should visit the mine or the quarry to examine the geological characteristics that are typically present in the different beds of stone and understand the normal acceptance and rejection procedures that are employed in the extraction and processing sites.

At Albion Stone we have large range panels that show these typical geological variations for each of our beds from the different quarry and mine extraction sites. By viewing these panels the team can appreciate the range of features that will be present in the stone and relate this, if appropriate, back to existing buildings.

It is important that the proposed visit is scheduled into the busy diaries of our senior staff to ensure that you can enjoy and benefit from a detailed experience tailored to your individual needs. The actual mine and quarry visit can be adjusted to your specific wishes but typically follows this format based on a mid morning arrival.

Getting Here

Many teams come from or via London, so we suggest (as per the National Rail 2013 timetable) the 8.35am train from London Waterloo with an arrival time in Weymouth at 11.13am. Portland is only a short taxi journey from Weymouth.

Alternatively you can drive; please see our office location map on the contacts page or come via the local airports; Bristol or Bournemouth.

Should you require an overnight stay on Portland, we suggest the Heights Hotel.

Visiting Format

A typical 2 to 3 hour visit format is set out below but greater details about the visit can be found in our Visitors Guide.

Visitor Guide

• Arrival, coffee and discussion about the project requirements; programme, stone sizes.
• View the Range Panels.
• Visit the mine and the quarries to look at the production faces, view the stock and perhaps look at our work to protect the environment and the restoration plans.
• Visit the factory to look at the production capacity and quality control procedures.
• A late working lunch to summarise the visit.

Please be aware that the quarries and mine are working environments and we would prefer that you came suitably casually dressed, no pin striped suits, it is a day for jeans! All PPE (personal protection equipment) will be available, but it would be helpful if you could let us know the boot sizes of the team before arrival.

If there is a particularly large team coming down, it would be helpful if some members brought their own PPE if they have it available. Disabled facilities are available at the site, but access to the mines and quarries may be limited depending on the current extraction location, please contact the Portland Office for further information.

Please bring a camera with plenty of memory, a note pad and as many questions that you can think of. It is an opportunity to speak to our team, we welcome questions. Samples of the stones viewed will be available to take away, alternatively they can be sent to your project or office address.

Schools, Colleges and Universities

Visits for schools, colleges or universities can be arranged.

Please send any proposals through to us, via email (enquiries@albionstone.com), together with some details about the scope and the educational benefit that you hope to achieve from the visit, i.e. subject topics you hope to cover.

For more information on Portland Stone and it's quarries, please click here.