Brunel Quays a credit to the master

A Pomery Natural Stone product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Mar 31, 2006

Pomery Natural Stone supplied quantities of granite lintels, cills, coins and threshold steps to ensure the sympathetic conversion of an old GWR warehouse at Lostwithiel in Cornwall.

Retaining the country's heritage buildings is a growing business, whether it's in London's Docklands, or across the country in Bristol, Manchester or Glasgow.

Both for massive developments or relatively small ones, attention to detail and getting the right materials for the job is an essential part of any project.

In the latter context, Pomery Natural Stone is increasingly being asked to supply materials that match or replace the original.

Typically, in a recent project carried out for Lantoom Limited, Pomery Natural Stone supplied quantities of granite lintels, cills, coins and threshold steps to ensure the sympathetic conversion of an old GWR (Great Western Railway) warehouse at Lostwithiel in Cornwall.

The warehouse was designed by the great engineer, Brunel, way back in the 1860's.

In a two-year project the fire-damaged building was brought back to its former glory by Nicholls Builders of Truro, but this time as Brunel Quays - a residential development with 45 dwellings.

Lantoom Limited, who operate Lantoom Quarry at Liskeard in Cornwall, were contracted to supply make-up rustic slate walling stone from its own quarries to fill-in where walls had become unstable through fire and neglect.

Where granite was required, Lantoom linked up with Pomery Natural Stone to also supply quantities of granite building stone at a competitive price compared with an existing quote.

This was a case of two companies coming together again to work on another successful project : "We've worked with David Crocker of Lantoom in the past and always had a good working relationship," said Pomery Natural Stone Managing Director, Julian Pomery.

"Although we have built our reputation on the supply of hard landscaping materials, feature materials like the ones we supplied for Brunel Quays are becoming a growing part of our business.

"It's very satisfying knowing we're playing a part in retaining buildings like Brunel Quays, especially when they are associated with one of the great masters of British engineering history.