The History of Valentia Slate Quarry
Valentia Slate Quarry was first opened commercially in 1816 by the Knight of Kerry to supply slates and slabs, mainly for roofing and flooring. 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 with inscriptions that are as perfect as the day they were erected as far back as the 1820’s. In 1825, a pier was constructed under the direction of Alexander Nimmo at The Foot in Valentia Harbour to allow the export of Valentia Slate. This pier and the nearby Slate Yard became the focus of the subsequent construction of Knightstown Village in the 1840’s, having been designed by Nimmo about 1830.

When the great municipal buildings were being erected in London in the mid-19th century, Valentia Slate was used extensively. These included the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and many of the Underground Railway Stations such as Waterloo, Charing Cross, Liverpool St. and Black Friars. It was also used in the Paris Opera House.

George Magnus became a shareholder in the Quarry in the 1850’s and he set up a business in London enamelling slate furniture and architectural panels. One of his well-known pieces is a white enamelled billiard table made entirely of Valentia Slate. This was ordered by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria and can still be seen today at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

Valentia Slate Quarry was first opened commercially in 1816 by the Knight of Kerry to supply slates and slabs, mainly for roofing and flooring. 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 with inscriptions that are as perfect as the day they were erected as far back as the 1820’s. In 1825, a pier was constructed under the direction of Alexander Nimmo at The Foot in Valentia Harbour to allow the export of Valentia Slate. This pier and the nearby Slate Yard became the focus of the subsequent construction of Knightstown Village in the 1840’s, having been designed by Nimmo about 1830.

When the great municipal buildings were being erected in London in the mid-19th century, Valentia Slate was used extensively. These included the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral and many of the Underground Railway Stations such as Waterloo, Charing Cross, Liverpool St. and Black Friars. It was also used in the Paris Opera House.

George Magnus became a shareholder in the Quarry in the 1850’s and he set up a business in London enamelling slate furniture and architectural panels. One of his well-known pieces is a white enamelled billiard table made entirely of Valentia Slate. This was ordered by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria and can still be seen today at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

In the early part of the history of the Transatlantic Cable Project, the company promoting the cable project rented a building in the quarry’s Slate Yard in Knightstown. In this building technological development work was carried out by William Thompson, later Lord Kelvin, on the mirror galvanometer required to detect the weak signals coming from the Canadian side. As a result of this work, the first cable message was sent between Europe and North America on August 16th 1858. For further information on the important role of the quarry in this venture and in particular the “First Message Building” please see link (preservation order).

In the 1954 Marian Year statues of Our Lady & Bernadette where placed high above the quarry in one of the first mine entrances forming what is now a well-known Lourdes grotto. A famous ladder was constructed to reach the statues from the ground; this ladder is no longer used but is still visible on the ground near the grotto.

After a period of inactivity in the 20th Century, the quarry was reopened in 1991 by three enterprising local men. Today modern production methods are used and a long tradition is continued. We believe that Valentia Slate Quarry is the oldest business premises in Kerry and one of the oldest manufacturing businesses in Ireland.

The quarry has played host to various events, including a yearly community mass. In 2004 the highly-regarded artist Dorothy Cross staged a very well received performance of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. It is hoped that the quarry will be the venue for many more such events and performances in the future. See our redevelopment page for further details. If you have an idea for an event or would like to stage one, please contact us.

In the early part of the history of the Transatlantic Cable Project, the company promoting the cable project rented a building in the quarry’s Slate Yard in Knightstown. In this building technological development work was carried out by William Thompson, later Lord Kelvin, on the mirror galvanometer required to detect the weak signals coming from the Canadian side. As a result of this work, the first cable message was sent between Europe and North America on August 16th 1858. For further information on the important role of the quarry in this venture and in particular the “First Message Building” please see link (preservation order).

In the 1954 Marian Year statues of Our Lady & Bernadette where placed high above the quarry in one of the first mine entrances forming what is now a well-known Lourdes grotto. A famous ladder was constructed to reach the statues from the ground; this ladder is no longer used but is still visible on the ground near the grotto.

After a period of inactivity in the 20th Century, the quarry was reopened in 1991 by three enterprising local men. Today modern production methods are used and a long tradition is continued. We believe that Valentia Slate Quarry is the oldest business premises in Kerry and one of the oldest manufacturing businesses in Ireland.

The quarry has played host to various events, including a yearly community mass. In 2004 the highly-regarded artist Dorothy Cross staged a very well received performance of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. It is hoped that the quarry will be the venue for many more such events and performances in the future. See our redevelopment page for further details. If you have an idea for an event or would like to stage one, please contact us.