Keywords Find ABOUT MQP PRODUCTS PROJECTS SUSTAINABILITY LOCATIONS CUSTOMER SUPPORT CAREERS CONTACT US Home About MQP History History The History of Cliffe Hill For the geologist the story of Cliffe Hill goes back 500 million years. Commercially the name granite applies to any hard stone, while geologists restrict the term to a rock consisting of three minerals Quartz, Feldspar and Mica. Cliffe Hill stone is a true Syenite, comprised of pinkish Felspar and green Hornblende. Cliffe Hill is situated on the southern edge of Charnwood Forest and has played a part in the progress of the county, country and local community for many years. The decision to re-open the quarry in 1891 had an immediate effect on the economic scene. It provided regular employment for local men and the purchase and maintenance of plant and equipment provide work for engineering firms growing in nearby Coalville and Leicester. Time Line 1870’s Quarrying begins by Mr Jones and Mr Fitzmaurice of Birmingham 1881 Jones and Fitzmaurice stop working Cliffe 1891 J.R.Fitzmaurice acquired the quarry from his father and reopens Cliffe Hill Mr P.Preston joins the company as manager on a salary of £3 per week. First office 10,000 tonnes per year produced 1892 The first major contract was secured for quarter inch clean chippings for the Patent Victoria Stone Company A steam traction engine was ordered and arrived in November at a cost of £469. This was used to facilitate the transportation of stone to Bagworth Station some 2.5 miles away. 1893 Due to the success of the previous year another steam traction engine was ordered. The first large blast in excess of 1,000 tonnes of rock being brought down. Today (2011) we would expect a blast to bring down approx 20,000 tonnes 1894 The company gained its first railway contract for 5,000 tonnes. The Cliffe Hill Granite Company was formed. 1896 Construction of the Cliffe Hill Mineral Railway begins, with the first locomotive delivered and working by the end of the year. This was constructed due to the increased interest in the company’s products and the inadequacies of the traction engines. Cliffe Hill Sidings Cliffe Hill Signal Box 1898 Office electrical plant installed to replace carbide and oil lamps. Crushing Plant Loading for crusher Looking at quarry yard Quarry surveying 1901 Book keeper and shorthand typist employed. 1902 Installation of a concrete slab making plant. 1911 Film unit makes a promotional film of the quarry. 1912 Rockside Stone Company formed to sell non premium products. 1913 Brick office building constructed to replace wooden shed. Mr P.L.Preston joins the company as Assistant Manager. 1914 Mineral railway track used for testing by Bagley Cars locomotive builders of Burton. First articulated lorry purchased able to carry 10 tonnes and travel at 8 miles per hour. Transport garage, weigh house and weighbridge built. 1923 Crushing plant installed Crushing plant 1924 Mr P. Preston retires and joins the board of directors. Mr P.L.Preston becomes quarry manager. New washed plant installed to speed up the method of producing the now in demand washed aggregate. The system doubled the output Electrification of the works takes place. 1926 Largest contract to date, 30,000 tonnes for, Leicester Corporation Sewage Works at Beaumont Leys. 1927 A new primary crusher was purchased and installed and after a seven month wait a new gyratory crusher was imported from America. 1929 Cliffe Hill sports club formed. By the summer 2 cricket and football teams existed. The company gave 2 fields for use by the club and built a pavilion. 1931 Cliffe Hill wins local area quarry methods and practice competition. 1933 A new Venture as the production of garden ornaments began but ceased only 2 years later. 1934 Cliffe Hill sports club disbanded due to a more frequent bus service to Leicester. 1935 Cliffe Hill Granite Company purchase the freehold of the quarry and surrounding property from the original founder J R Fitzmaurice 1937 A new tarmacadam plant was erected in the quarry and the old tar plant at the sidings was dismantled 1938 First electrical shovel purchased 1939 Holiday pay introduced First paid holiday taken in August 1939 Entire stock of slabs sold for use in military camps. Vast amounts of material supplied for runways and ammunition factories. 1941 The company obtained permission to use German and Italian prisoners of war their work enabled the company to continue on a reduced scale. 1942 Mr P.Preston the founder manager passed away in 1942. He served the company for 51 years, 33 as manager and 18 years on the Board of Directors. 1945 Mr Peter McHugh Preston returned from active service and took up the position of Quarry Manager, the third member of the family to serve in that capacity. 1946 Installation of a primary crusher on the quarry floor. The rail system was replaced using road transport. The ten inch gyratory crusher was replaced by a four and quarter inch Nordberg cone crusher. Two tarmacadam plants were removed and replaced by one tarmacadam plant with increased capacity. Aerial photo of Cliffe Hill Truck Crane Bucket 1948 Cliffe Hill Mineral Railway Line abandoned in favour of road transport. 1949 The original founder Mr J.R. Fitzmaurice passed away The company embarked on a new product (Ready Mixed Concrete). The first plant was installed at Markfield and shortly after another site was acquired in Leicester. 1950 The company was a founder member of the British Ready Mixed Concrete Association. 1953 A large modern Asphalt plant was installed to meet increasing demand. 1954 Mr P.L. Preston passed away after serving the company for 42 years. His Son Mr Peter McHugh Preston was appointed as Managing Director 1959 First electronically controlled batching and loading system installed to further enhance company performance. Mayor at Cliffe Hill Interior weigh bridge 1960 First employee annual family day. Typical jaunts were to Skegness and London. Annual Family Day 1961 Ready Mixed Concrete business sold. Mid Norfolk Gravel company purchased. Radio Telephone communication system installed. Longest serving employee Alf Swain retires after 63 years service. First edition of the “Markfieldite” issued. 14,000 copy monthly newspaper, for local villagers and employees Black Monday flu epidemic, 31 employees have the virus and fail to attend work. 19 drivers win safe driving awards. Cliffe Hill Granite used in the construction of Leicester’s first multi-storey carpark at Lee circle. 1963 Worse winter in 16 years saw Cliffe Hill at a stand still for a month. Cliffe Hill Granite used in the construction of the local M1 section. Death of Mr P.Mc.Preston MBE at 42 years. Ending a 72 year association between Cliffe Hill Granite and the Preston Family. 1964 The company now consists of Cliffe Hill Granite and 7 subsidiaries. 1965 The Cliffe Hill Granite company was acquired by Tarmac Roadstone Major redevelopment work commences including installation of a new primary crusher. The largest in the UK at the time 1968 Installation of an additional coating plant. 1971 1,000,000 tonnes per annum produced. 1973 Third coating plant installed. 1974 Semi automatic loading point installed at the rail sidings allowed rapid loading of rail wagons. 1978 Further extension and landscaping of the quarry commenced. 1980 New Cliffe Hill (Stud Farm) planning application prepared. 1983 New Cliffe Hill (Stud Farm) planning application granted. 1988 New Cliffe Hill (Stud Farm) opens for business 1989 Cliffe Hill (Old) Quarry closes after 98 years. 1997 Cliffe Hill becomes part of a joint venture between Tarmac and Hanson under the banner of MQP. 2002 Primary Crusher re-sited in New Cliffe Hill and connecting conveyors installed. This exposed reserves under original Primary position and positioned for extraction at deeper levels. Permission is granted to build a tunnel between New Cliffe Hill and Old Cliffe Hill. Secondary Plant Quaternary crusher type changed to increase yield of smaller size chippings required in the changing Asphalt recipes. Additional Cone crusher (XC10) installed and secondary crusher bypass “Grizzly Feeder” installed to increase Secondary Plant feed rate. Cornish Miners commence work on the tunnel from Old Cliffe Hill. 2003 Australian miners commence work on the tunnel from New Cliffe Hill. Tunnel break through and official opening. Tunnel Engineers with Plaque Tunnel with dumper M.O.T. (Type 1) production and stock out facility added to Primary Production Route. Previously this product was blended from Secondary processed aggregate. 2004 Scalpings Wash Plant built in response to increasing Scalpings Stocks resulting from the 2002 introduction of the “Aggregates Levy. 2005 Resumption of production at old Cliffe Hill after lying dormant for 16 years. 2006 The Quarry’s dated ‘GEM 80’ hard wired control system completely replaced by a PC based ‘Allen Bradley” Scada system and “Fibre-optic” network. Quarrying ceased at New Cliffe Hill. 2007 - 2009 Focus was on the construction of Wednesbury Asphalt Plant and the evacuation from Edwin Richards Quarry including the demolition. 2009 Demolition of Screening Plant and associated Conveyors at Whitwick Quarry. Complete replacement of aging control system on both the Marini and Quadratech Asphalt Plants. 2010 Installation of conveyors, associated hoppers and feeders along with storage sheds for the introduction of RAP to the Marini and Quadratech Asphalt Plants. Load & Haul Contract returns to an "In House" operation. 2011 Construction of Storage to provide the weather protection of imported sands to minimise moisture content thus maximise energy efficiency. 2012 MQP pass 2 million man hours without a lost-time incident (LTI) at Cliffe Hill Quarry. The Competition Commission (CC) stipulates that Tarmac must sell its share in MQP because of the proposed JV between Anglo American/Tarmac and Lafarge. 2013 Hanson takes full ownership of MQP. 2014 In June Clee Hill Quarry and Asphalt Plant, Shropshire is added to the MQP network of units. In October Baston Fen, Lincs and Northampton Asphalt plants become part of MQP. 2015 The primary Crusher was moved 700m, after 2 years of planning, to a new location within Old Cliffe Hill Quarry. St Ives, Cambs Asphalt Plant is reopened to become part of MQP. Head office 0330 123 2058 enquiries@mqp.co.uk Sales enquiries 0330 123 2061 sales@mqp.co.uk Orders 0330 123 2062 orders@mqp.co.uk Technical Support technical@mqp.co.uk Please place orders by calling 0330 123 2062 CUSTOMER SUPPORT TONNAGE CALCULATOR CUSTOMER LOGIN REQUEST A QUOTE VEHICLE SIZES POLICIES AND CERTIFICATES LEGAL PRIVACY POLICY TERMS OF USE MODERN SLAVERY STATEMENT SPEAKUP® SECTION 172 STATEMENT DOCUMENT DOWNLOADS CONTACT MQP