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More Aldhelm Quarry Mark Jenkinson, September 2025 I found Varian Tye’s article about the St Aldhelm Quarry very interesting as I have researched the glove story in the past. I had understood that the Aldhelm stencil was used as a trademark for one of the stone companies, but I had not come across any specific quarry named after St Aldhelm prior to seeing Varian’s newspaper clipping from the Swan and the small reference in the Sturge Cotterell chapter that he found. The various Box quarries have several different names but, as Varian noted, David Pollard does not seem to ascribe the name of St Aldhelm to any particular one.[1] Sources There are a few documented references to an actual quarry called St Aldhelm’s. The article by Thomas Sturge Cotterell, general manager of the Bath and Portland Stone Firms, gives specific references to Aldhelm’s Quarry:[2] |
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At St Aldhelm’s Quarry
A pleasant ride from Wraxall to Box Hill brought the tourists to the St Aldhelm’s Quarry of the Stone Firms. Mr T Sturge Cotterell received the visitors and conducted them along the subterranean passage to the present-day workings. Mr Cotterell said the distance to the scene of the stone-getting was half a mile but it seemed a good deal longer. Mr Cotterell explained to the party that the quarry was originally opened on the south side by the Saxons who quarried from the surface whereas the present entrance is on the north and the stone was obtained through tunnels.[3]
A pleasant ride from Wraxall to Box Hill brought the tourists to the St Aldhelm’s Quarry of the Stone Firms. Mr T Sturge Cotterell received the visitors and conducted them along the subterranean passage to the present-day workings. Mr Cotterell said the distance to the scene of the stone-getting was half a mile but it seemed a good deal longer. Mr Cotterell explained to the party that the quarry was originally opened on the south side by the Saxons who quarried from the surface whereas the present entrance is on the north and the stone was obtained through tunnels.[3]
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The name appears to have been appropriated by the Bath and Portland, including a newspaper article about the opening of the extension to the Trowbridge Pioneer Society in 1933: The stone used in the front of the new building was supplied to the contractors by the Bath and Portland Stone Firms Ltd, St Aldhelm’s Quarry, Box.[4] In 1984 Liz Price used a stencil image to illustrate the anecdote about the glove but it is not dated or attributed and the name does not appear in her list of quarries.[5] |
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Stencil Markings
I have taken photographs of various stencilled labels that I have come across on underground walls, but the only time that I have ever encountered St Aldhelm’s Glove is in Monk’s Park Quarry (and I believe it may be a later addition rather than original. Some of my photos were taken from the walls of that quarry). There is not a St Aldhelm’s Glove example anywhere in Box quarry (in the non-MoD sections at least), but there are quite a few other stencilled examples in Box.[6] It’s a shame that the rude lady above and in the headline image isn’t particularly old (unlike some other lewd drawings dotted around the quarries!).
I have taken photographs of various stencilled labels that I have come across on underground walls, but the only time that I have ever encountered St Aldhelm’s Glove is in Monk’s Park Quarry (and I believe it may be a later addition rather than original. Some of my photos were taken from the walls of that quarry). There is not a St Aldhelm’s Glove example anywhere in Box quarry (in the non-MoD sections at least), but there are quite a few other stencilled examples in Box.[6] It’s a shame that the rude lady above and in the headline image isn’t particularly old (unlike some other lewd drawings dotted around the quarries!).
St Aldhelm’s at Purbeck Quarries
There was another St Aldhelm’s Quarry at Worth Matravers, Dorset, close to St Aldhelm’s Chapel on the coast, west of Swanage, where Purbeck Portland stone was quarried.[7] There is a St Aldhelm’s Quarry at Purbeck and the name appears to be used synonymously with limestone.[8]
There was another St Aldhelm’s Quarry at Worth Matravers, Dorset, close to St Aldhelm’s Chapel on the coast, west of Swanage, where Purbeck Portland stone was quarried.[7] There is a St Aldhelm’s Quarry at Purbeck and the name appears to be used synonymously with limestone.[8]
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The Purbeck company has some interesting details on its website:[9]
Haysom family stonemasons have lived and worked In Purbeck since the end of the 17th century. We believe Mark, the current Managing Director, is the eleventh generation to work Purbeck stone. Walter Haysom, Mark’s grandfather, took over St Aldhelm’s Quarry in 1934 and Treleven, Mark’s father, continued the business until he retired from physical work a few years ago. Mark currently runs a larger company, St Aldhelm’s and Lander’s Quarries, now known as Haysom Purbeck Stone. |
Andrew Webster carving Purbeck marble (courtesy company website)
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Conclusion
There does not seem to be much evidence that any individual Box quarry was widely known by this name, although the geographical description identified by Varian is consistent with Clift in the context of Cotterell’s article. Perhaps the name was used as a marketing brand for the Box Ground stone produced by the Bath and Portland Stone Firms, rather than any particular quarry named after St Aldhelm. It would make sense to use the corporate branding in this way. This was also the concluson reached by Liz Price when she asserted that St Aldhelm’s glove was adopted as a badge by the Bath Stone Firms.[10]
There does not seem to be much evidence that any individual Box quarry was widely known by this name, although the geographical description identified by Varian is consistent with Clift in the context of Cotterell’s article. Perhaps the name was used as a marketing brand for the Box Ground stone produced by the Bath and Portland Stone Firms, rather than any particular quarry named after St Aldhelm. It would make sense to use the corporate branding in this way. This was also the concluson reached by Liz Price when she asserted that St Aldhelm’s glove was adopted as a badge by the Bath Stone Firms.[10]
References
[1] David Pollard, Digging Bath Stone: A Quarry and Transport History, 2021, Lightmoor Press
[2] Newspaper references courtesy Julian Carosi
[3] The Wiltshire News, 26 June 1914
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 2 December 1933
[5] Liz Price, Bath Freestone Workings, 1984, The Resurgence Press, p.13
[6] See http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/underground-quarries.html
[7] See page 24 of the Western Gazette, Friday 3 July 1987 and page 11 of the Western Gazette, Friday 7 November 1986
[8] Courtesy Dave Grosvenor
[9] Quarry History | Haysom Purbeck Stone
[10] Liz Price, Bath Freestone Workings, 1984, The Resurgence Press, p.13
[1] David Pollard, Digging Bath Stone: A Quarry and Transport History, 2021, Lightmoor Press
[2] Newspaper references courtesy Julian Carosi
[3] The Wiltshire News, 26 June 1914
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 2 December 1933
[5] Liz Price, Bath Freestone Workings, 1984, The Resurgence Press, p.13
[6] See http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/underground-quarries.html
[7] See page 24 of the Western Gazette, Friday 3 July 1987 and page 11 of the Western Gazette, Friday 7 November 1986
[8] Courtesy Dave Grosvenor
[9] Quarry History | Haysom Purbeck Stone
[10] Liz Price, Bath Freestone Workings, 1984, The Resurgence Press, p.13