This is Cornwall --
A quarry that attracted visits from some of the world's greatest engineering minds as it led a groundbreaking project to tap the Earth's geothermal energy is up for sale.
Rosemanowes Quarry, near Penryn in Cornwall, has already attracted enquiries from Saudi Arabian oil companies and offshore drilling firms. The site became famous for playing host to Europe's first deep geothermal project from 1977 to 1991, when it attracted visits from delegates from across the world, as well as the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The project, named Hot Rocks, investigated whether a new source of energy could be utilised from granite rocks three kilometres underground. The innovative piece of engineering inspired the construction of geothermal power plants from the US to Asia and Germany.
Peter Heather, from local chartered surveyors Miller Commercial, which is handling the sale, said: "This is an exciting and interesting instruction for our firm.
"I remember visiting Rosemanowes Quarry as a boy and being fascinated at the work going on there.
"The site is a perfect environment for companies involved in down-hole drilling engineering and testing of specialist tools for this purpose."
With seven holes at a depth of nearly three kilometres, Rosemanowes has the deepest bore holes in Britain.
The quarry itself is an historic granite works. It quarried large quantities of stone in the early 19th century, which were shipped off to be used in construction projects in Britain and abroad.
Locally, stone from the quarry was used to build the Ponsanooth viaduct near Penryn, and also the Carnon Valley Viaduct between Truro and Falmouth. Other areas of the site were used as a military tip by Americans in the Second World War.
The quarry is currently owned by 3K Facilities, which offers deep borehole testing facilities.
But Mr Heather added the 20-acre site, which has also received interest from renewable energy companies, would be an attractive proposition for a broad range of industries.
He said: "Interestingly, the geographical features of the quarry, its size, secluded location and accessibility, also lend themselves to green energy projects, such as solar or wind farms.
"Therefore, we are marketing the site from those involved in the cutting edge of borehole tool development to local haulier and waste management companies."
Rosemanowes Quarry is available for offers in excess of £750,000 from Miller Commercial on 01872 204007. Reported by This is 5 hours ago.
A quarry that attracted visits from some of the world's greatest engineering minds as it led a groundbreaking project to tap the Earth's geothermal energy is up for sale.
Rosemanowes Quarry, near Penryn in Cornwall, has already attracted enquiries from Saudi Arabian oil companies and offshore drilling firms. The site became famous for playing host to Europe's first deep geothermal project from 1977 to 1991, when it attracted visits from delegates from across the world, as well as the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The project, named Hot Rocks, investigated whether a new source of energy could be utilised from granite rocks three kilometres underground. The innovative piece of engineering inspired the construction of geothermal power plants from the US to Asia and Germany.
Peter Heather, from local chartered surveyors Miller Commercial, which is handling the sale, said: "This is an exciting and interesting instruction for our firm.
"I remember visiting Rosemanowes Quarry as a boy and being fascinated at the work going on there.
"The site is a perfect environment for companies involved in down-hole drilling engineering and testing of specialist tools for this purpose."
With seven holes at a depth of nearly three kilometres, Rosemanowes has the deepest bore holes in Britain.
The quarry itself is an historic granite works. It quarried large quantities of stone in the early 19th century, which were shipped off to be used in construction projects in Britain and abroad.
Locally, stone from the quarry was used to build the Ponsanooth viaduct near Penryn, and also the Carnon Valley Viaduct between Truro and Falmouth. Other areas of the site were used as a military tip by Americans in the Second World War.
The quarry is currently owned by 3K Facilities, which offers deep borehole testing facilities.
But Mr Heather added the 20-acre site, which has also received interest from renewable energy companies, would be an attractive proposition for a broad range of industries.
He said: "Interestingly, the geographical features of the quarry, its size, secluded location and accessibility, also lend themselves to green energy projects, such as solar or wind farms.
"Therefore, we are marketing the site from those involved in the cutting edge of borehole tool development to local haulier and waste management companies."
Rosemanowes Quarry is available for offers in excess of £750,000 from Miller Commercial on 01872 204007. Reported by This is 5 hours ago.