Our Mines

Portland Stone is widely recognised as one of the world’s most prestigious building materials. Albion Stone owns extensive reserves of Portland limestone, extracted from our own mines. This ensures reliable supply for our clients and allows us full control over the quality of the stone from mine to factory.

Albion Stone has invested heavily in state-of-the-art mining and processing equipment, which brings many benefits, including improved safety, efficiency, accuracy, and reduced environmental impact. Maintaining these high standards is a priority, and our performance is regularly assessed and accredited by the independent British Standards Institute (BSI).

Current Mines

Jordans / Bowers Mine Complex

• History: Mining began with a trial at Bowers Quarry in 2002, expanding into high-wall mining across the boundary in 2006.
• In 2008, operations moved to Jordans Mine, starting under the Red Triangle Cricket Club and later extending beneath nearby roads, schools, and community areas to access additional reserves.
• Simultaneously, Bowers Quarry operations continued under the school playing field and churchyard, eventually linking with Jordans Mine in November 2019.

Stone types extracted from this complex include:

• Grove Whitbed®
• Fancy Beach Whitbed
• Jordans Whitbed
• Ostrea Patch Reef Whitbed
• Jordans Basebed
• Bowers Roach®
• Bowers Whitbed & Bowers Basebed (now sold as Jordans Whitbed and Jordans Basebed, since the stone is identical)

Expected reserves: Extraction at current levels is likely to continue until the early 2040s

Stonehills Mine

• In 2001, Albion Stone secured UK’s first completely new mining permission in years.
• Enabling work has carefully protected the environment, including nesting skylarks and landscape impacts.
• Extraction began in 2021, producing high-quality Stonehills Whitbed.

Expected reserves: At projected extraction rates, Stonehills reserves will last at least 50 years, potentially longer with improved mining methods.

Historical Quarries operated by Albion Stone

Jordans

• Part of Inmosthay Quarry, which also includes Fancy Beach.
• Worked consistently from the late 1800s until the last stones were extracted in 2015.
• Albion Stone transitioned from quarrying to more sustainable mining in 2008.
• Stones produced: Jordans Basebed, Jordans Whitbed, Jordans Roach, Grove Whitbed, Fancy Beach Whitbed.
• Northern reserves now part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and will be restored as part of the final site scheme.

Bowers

• Operated from the late 1700s to the 1930s, then resumed under Albion Stone in 1979.
• Albion Stone voluntarily surrendered some planning permissions in favour of sustainable mining.
• Stones produced: Bowers Roach®, Bowers Lynham, Saunders Whitbed, Bowers Basebed.

Independent / Admiralty

• Owned by The Crown Estate, leased to Albion Stone since 1982.
• Originally mined using convict labour in the mid-1800s, fully extracted by 2006 (though some block stocks remain).
• Stones produced: Independent Basebed, Independent Top Whitbed, Independent Bottom Whitbed, Admiralty Basebed, Admiralty Whitbed.

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