It also supplied gravestones to all the local cemeteries and because of the excellent quality of the slate (non porous with no impurities), these memorials can still be seen today as perfect as the day they were erected as far back as the 1820’s. When the great municipal buildings were being erected in London in the mid 19th century, Valentia Slate was used extensively. These included the Houses o
f Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and many of the Underground Railways such as Waterloo, Charing Cross, Liverpool St., Black Friars. It was also used in the Paris Opera House. George Magnus became a shareholder in the Quarry and he set up an enamelling business in London and one of his finest products was white enamelled Valentia Slate Billiard Tables made entirely of Slate and one of these can still be seen in the Isle of Wight. During its best years in the 1850’s the quarry employed up to 500 workers and built up a world renowned name for its quality products. However, with the cheaper and softer Welsh Slate coming on the market, a decline set in at Valentia and a rockfall at the mouth of the Quarry was the final straw.The Quarry closed in 1911. However, the Quarry was reopened in 1999 and went into business once more. It wasn’t easy as all the slate tradition and knowledge had died out after 88 years of inactivity. Today the Quarry employs 10 people and has a fine range of quality products. These include floor tiles, counter tops, sills, firesurrounds, vanity units, shower trays, bath surrounds, ornamental furniture, garden furniture,steps, stairs, bar counters,name plates,grave surrounds and memorials, building stone and many other products. Over the past 10 years Valentia slate has been expanding slowly and is now a favourite by many architects who come back year after year. mostly sell directly from the quarry and has no sales people on the road, it is often said the Valentia Slate is Ireland’s best kept secret!. Some of its bigger projects include EU Food and Veterinary Headquarters in Co. Meath, Irish Veterinary Laboratory Headquarters at Drumshambo, Co. Lietrim, National State Laboratory at Backweston, Co. Dublin, Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Sheen Falls Hotel, Kenmare, The Marine Institute in Galway and many more. Bono has become the latest client to discover Valentia Slate and at the moment he is using Valentia Slate extensively in refurbishing his magnificent home overlooking Killiney Bay in Co. As mentioned earlier, Valentia Slate was used extensively in the construction of the Palace of Westminster especially in the floors which were designed by the famous architect Pugin. Now there is a major revamp being carried out and many of the encaustic tiles are being replaced in all the corridors. These tiles are bordered with Valentia Slate in diamond patterns and Valentia Slate Ltd. has once again secured a contract to supply borders, tiles and skirtings over the next few years as the authentic restoration proceeds. It says something for the quality of Valentia Slate when you have to replace them after 160 years! When Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Aherne resigned it was fitting that he was presented with an engraved plaque of Valentia Slate which was taken from the floors of the Palace of Westminster which were laid down in the 1840’s.
