A Brief History of The Kinsale Stone Co. (Wales) Ltd
The Kinsale Stone Co. (Wales) Ltd is a family run stone masonry business, which was originally founded in the Republic of Ireland in 2000 and registered in the UK in 2004 by the present managing director Mr K. J .A. Dark . in 2005 Mr Dark was joined by his son Hywel who is now a co director, and a skilled banker mason in his own right.
The family history in stone masonry dates back as far as 1858 and is associated with some very historic structures from that period. One of which is the famous railway viaduct at Ystrad Mynach which when completed joined the two then separate valley railway systems together improving the economy of the area.
The company carries out modern, natural stone walling , barn conversions and historic building, stone structural renovation , using traditional stone masonry techniques, fat lime putties and hydraulic type mortars. We work with traditional methods of stone masonry unchanged for hundreds of years i.e. cutting and dressing stone by hand without the use of modern power tools.
We have a vast knowledge of lime mortars and designated mixes and a highly skilled work force with vast experience in all aspects of stone masonry.
The company work force are also competent in dry stone walling techniques and have done work in several areas for local authorities.
The Kinsale Stone Co. has worked in conjunction with Irish DUCAS, Welsh CADW and local authority conservation officers . three high profile projects being the historic Old Stone Bridge in Bridgend, from which the town takes it’s name, built in 1425 , Beaupre Castle a 15th century fortified manor house situated in the beautiful Vale Of Glamorgan, and the restoration of the historic Cowbridge medieval town walls, which date back to the 12th century.
The company is currently restoring the Deanery c1320 in the cathedral grounds at Brecon for the Swansea and Brecon Diocese . The Deanery and the surrounding collection of buildings are the oldest medieval buildings in use in Wales today.
The Kinsale stone also have experience as principle contractor status for site health and safety with current 2015 C.D.M regulations.
We hope this has proved helpful to you.
Yours sincerely
K.J.A. Dark
Managing Director, Kinsale Stone Co. (Wales) Ltd.