History

1800.

Donald Stewart, a prospector employed by the Dublin Society, described his discoveries including “remarkable large and good flags” on the “Estate of Mountcharles”. His published report stated “In the bed of the Little Eany, near the bay of Donegal, and Mountcharles, are fine free-stone flags, in great abundance, and very large, from one to three inches thick”.

1816.

Mason noted “In various places freestone abounds, particularly near Mountcharles, where a quarry of a very fine quality adapted for every purpose, both of building and flagging, is now open. The stone is a beautiful white colour, and fine grain; it may be raised of any size and thickness, and bears the chisel very well.”

1835.

The First Edition of the Ordnance Survey six-inch to one mile scale maps, show a quarry face about 30 metres long in the Lower Quarry, and a face of 180 m in the Upper Quarry to the east.

1845.

Masonry at the quarry cost 4-6 shillings/ton, freestone flagging, 2½-4 inches thick, about 1s.6d. per yard.

1847.

Famine pier built at Salthill, using Mountcharles sandstone.

c1848.

The Second Edition maps show the Lower Quarry extended for 160 m, and in the Upper Quarry there was a new working 40 m long, east of the earlier 180 m long workings (Griffith Valuation).

1858.

The Mineral Statistics record “Drumkeeghan Quarry” as owned by the Marquis of Conyngham, and producing “Excellent Freestone, slightly yellow colour, nearly white. Wears well, works well, and can be had of all dimensions”. The stone sold for about 1 shilling per square foot, at the quarry.

1886.

An extensive report on the quarries in the Londonderry Sentinel, republished in the Irish Builder (01/12/1886, p314-5). Messrs J.W. Beckett were operating the quarry owned by Patrick Monaghan. Other quarry owners were Patrick Quinn, Bernard Quinn, James McGroarty and R. Mercer.

1889.

Kinahan warns “This stone, lately brought prominently forward, has a good character if set on its natural bed; but if set on edge it is friable and peels off.”

c1890.

The Geological Survey six inch to one mile scale map records at the Upper Quarry ‘Splendid building stone in lowest bed which has been excavated for about 100 yards, underneath a coarse grit, locally called “granite”. Flags also raised here 2½” thick at 2½d per sq. foot. Dressed flags and window sills 14d per sq. foot’.

1893.

Donegal to Killybegs railway line completed, with a station at Mountcharles. Stone was loaded into wagons with a five-ton crane.

1894.

Slaters Royal National Directory of Ireland records at Mountcharles “A large and extensive freestone quarry is worked in the neighbourhood.” Businesses listed included “Monighan Patrick, quarry owner & monumental sculptor” and “Quinn Patrick, proprietor of Mount Charles quarries, & monumental sculptor”.

1894.

Swift MacNeill MP asked a question in the House of Commons about the use of Mountcharles freestone in the new buildings at the Curragh Camp. This was the first of many questions asked in the House of Commons up until 1907, intended to promote the use of irish stone.

c1900.

The Ordnance Survey 25 inch to one mile scale maps, show a quarry face about 350 m long in the Lower Quarry, and a face of 590 m in the Upper Quarry to the east (Ordnance Survey Ireland).

1904.

Patrick Quinn exhibits a sample of sandstone at the Worlds Fair, as part of an initiative by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland.

1905.

George A. Watson & Co. Ltd received a 99 year lease for all the quarries of stone at Mountcharles. The company were incorporated in 1900, in financial difficulties by 1906, in the hands of a receiver in 1908 and dissolved in 1911.

1906.

Tragic death of a youth named Harvey (13).

1909.

The quarrying lease was assigned to Mr M.W. Colchester Wemyss of United Stone Firms Ltd. The company was registered in 1909 and had acquired the assets of G.A. Watson & Co. The new company introduced the “most modern lifting and stone working machinery and appliances.”

1910.

The company built five steel screw coasting steamers, including S/S “Mountcharles”. The ships were designed for loading and discharging their cargos while aground. The “Mountcharles” sunk in atrocious weather in 1953 when carrying a cargo of china clay of the north coast of Cornwall. There was no loss of life.

1910.

John Harvey, an attendant on a stone-planing and moulding machine, had his foot crushed by a “dog”.

1912.

Upwards of 500 people employed in the quarries, by Mr.P. Quinn, D.C., USF and Mrs Ann Monaghan. The Mines Inspectors Report says that 92 people were employed in quarries in Co. Donegal, with 3133 tons of sandstone produced, worth £2476.

1912.

Auction of USF quarries and equipment at Mountcharles.

1913.

USF in voluntary liquidation, with a view to reconstruction. Dissolved in 1920.

1914.

USF equipment removed to quarries on the Isle of Portland, Dorset.

1926.

Stone used in the reconstruction of the Courthouse in Donegal town, and in buildings in Dublin, including the interior of the G.P.O.

1927.

Suggestion by Frank Carney T.D. in Dail Eireann that a tariff be put on imported stone such as Portland stone, to promote quarries such at Mountcharles.

1928.

In the Dail, Frank Carney asks that stone from the Drimkeelan Freestone Quarries is used in all Government buildings, or buildings subsidised by the Government. Mr Sean F. Lemass said he had visited the Mountcharles quarry recently, and it was almost dead.

1929.

In the Dail, Frank Carney reports that Portland stone had been used in a new building in Dublin. Less than a dozen people were employed at the Mountcharles Quarries. He resented the fact that taxpayers money was being used to keep english convicts at work quarrying Portland stone.

1936.

12 miners and 11 stonecutters were employed in the quarries.

1938.

Work was at a stand-still apart from the occasional piece of monumental work.

1950s.

The last mining took place.

1980s

Quarrying resumes with modern machinery. Surface Remains
In 2001 there were at least 21 entrances in to the mine in the Upper Quarry, and 7 entrances in the lower quarry. Some hauling equipment remained outside one of entrances in the Lower Quarry (4). At least one shed for stonecutting remains.

Structures built using Mountcharles sandstone