Hingston Down is situated within the Tamar Valley in Gunnislake, Cornwall, and produces abrasive and fine granite aggregates, concrete and asphalt.
The quarry supplies high quality materials for large construction projects in Devon and Cornwall including housing developments and road surfacing works as well as DIY projects.
The site also produces specialist materials, such as rock armour and gabion stone, which are used for river embankments and sea defence systems across the region.
A team of 15 people are employed at the site, which includes the quarry, asphalt plant and concrete plant, as well as many more across our supply chain of contractors and support staff including maintenance engineers and HGV drivers.
We actively support local initiatives and programmes which benefit our local community and environment including cash and material donations.
Contact us
For all enquiries please email: hingstondownquarry@uk.heidelbergmaterials.com
Become a supplier
Click here to request information about how to become a supplier.
The Tamar Valley has been shaped by its industrial heritage and riche mineral reserves with quarrying in the region dating back to the 1800s.
An 1880 Ordnance Survey map shows nine quarries were once located within half a mile of Gunnislake, but today Hingston Down is the only one that remains operational.
The Hingston Down Quarry Company began operating at the site in 1924 until it was taken over by Amalgamated Roadstone Corporation (ARC), which focused on quarrying the fine-grained granite for road construction.
The quarried stone was originally transported via the East Cornwall Mineral Railway, with around 20 15-tonne wagons being dispatched each day.
ARC was acquired by building materials group Hanson as part of its acquisition of Consolidated Gold Fields in 1989, which subsequently rebranded to Heidelberg Materials in 2023.
Today, part of the quarry is designated a special site of scientific interest due to its geology due to its exposed granite and valuable mineral deposits.
Our own 2030 sustainability commitments, include a target to dedicate for 15 per cent of the surface areas of all our operational extractive sites to nature.
A portion of Hingston Down is dedicated to enhancing biodiversity either through retained or restored land, or temporary habitats such as water lagoons.
We are also focused on preserving and improving existing grassland and heathland habitat by clearing encroaching scrub and removing invasive species.
Operating hours
Our normal operating hours, unless otherwise agreed by Cornwall Council, are as follows:
- The quarry and concrete plant are open Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 18:00 and Saturday from 06:00 to 13:00.
- The asphalt plant is permitted to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Closed on public and bank holidays unless prior agreement.
Blasting
Blasting usually takes place Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17:00.
We plan operations so that wherever possible blasting takes place between 12:00 and 14:00. Blast times are approximate and are subject to change due to weather or operational safety requirements.
To sign up to receive blasting notifications, please email hingstondownquarry@uk.heidelbergmaterials.com and advise whether you would prefer to receive the notification by email or text. Please see our privacy policy for details on how we manage personal data.
News
Material donation supports Gunnislake Cricket Club
Our Hingston Down quarry donated the asphalt and aggregates needed to upgrade the access track to Gunnislake Cricket Club grounds.
The previous track had become worn and difficult to access, particularly in poor weather. The new surface will significantly improve access for club members and visitors, and follows two years of fundraising by the club, as well as contributions from the local community.
Community liaison group
We are committed to open communication about our operations and discussing local issues and projects through our liaison group committee.
The liaison group committee includes members from various interested parties, such as representatives from Cornwall Council, Calstock Parish Council and Devon and Cornwall Police.
Minutes from previous meetings can be viewed below.
If you are interested in representing your community on this group, please get in touch with us at hingstondownquarry@uk.heidelbergmaterials.com
Careers and apprenticeships
We operate more than 300 manufacturing sites in the UK and employ over 4,000 people, offering a variety of careers and development opportunities.
Careers
We operate more than 300 manufacturing sites in the UK and employ over 4,000 people, offering a variety of careers and development opportunities.
These include a wide range of roles from production workers, plant operatives, engineers, technicians and drivers to sales, IT, finance and HR managers.
Our graduate programme for specialists in engineering, geology, marketing or a STEM related discipline, offers a structured two-year programme based in a variety of locations across the UK.
We also provide various apprenticeships, giving you the opportunity to earn while you learn and the opportunity to secure valuable industry qualifications.
These include our three-year higher apprenticeship programme, which offers the first steps towards various careers in our sector from site supervisors to quantity surveying, and other apprenticeships for roles including plant operators and mechanical engineers.
For more on our graduate, apprenticeship programmes, career opportunities and our current vacancies and details on how to apply visit our careers website.
Supporting the community
As a responsible operator, we want to play our part in supporting communities where we operate as well as protecting and enhancing the local environment.
We welcome visits from schools, colleges, scouts, guides and other groups to our site, host open days and support various projects in the community we operate.
In addition, local charities and community groups have benefitted from the donation of money, materials and time, through our employee volunteering days.
Our approach is to prioritise support for initiatives:
- Promoting education, skills and wellbeing
- Protecting and/or enhancing the environment
- Supporting biodiversity and sustainability
- Promoting the community and heritage of the area
Financial and materials donations are prioritised to groups from those within a three-mile radius of Hingston Down quarry and voluntary work within 10 miles of our site.
Request a donation
Click here to request a financial or materials donation or voluntary support. Please tell us about your group and/or project, what type of support you are seeking and how your project’s aims align with our priorities above.
Recent beneficiaries
- Gunnislake Cricket Club – 155 tonnes of aggregates and asphalt for a new access road.
- Gunnislake Football Club – 40 tonnes of aggregates for field drainage.
- Calstock Parish Council – 45 boulders weighing around 120 tonnes for car park boundary.