Our Story
Long Rake Spar, the parent company of Grantex, was first established more than 150 years ago.
Today, it provides the most extensive and diverse range of premium, high-quality, dried aggregates in the UK. Let’s take a look back at our rich heritage and decades of expertise.
1867
The Long Rake mine
The Derbyshire Peak District has long been an important area for leading mining, with activity in Bakewell dating back to 1086. Youlgrave was once an important lead mining parish, with five lead mines mentioned in the 1857 Directory of Derbyshire. The Long Rake mine officially opened in 1867.
The Long Rake Spar Mining Company
Local land owner Thomas Shimwell bought the mine nearly ten years later, renaming the company to the Long Rake Spar Mining Company in 1881. Extraction continued to expand with bright white Calcite, more commonly known as Derbyshire ‘Spar’. Operations at the site were taking place underground at three levels.
1881
1913
Long Rake Spar
as we know it now
In 1913, the landowner gifted the mine to his daughter, Mary Shimwell, for income. At this time, Long Rake mine employed 6 men working on the surface, and between 2 and 6 underground. The Long Rake Spar Mining Company then became Long Rake Spar Co., as we know it today.
Increasing production
In the 1920’s the company was directed by Captain Percy Potter. His directorship saw an ever expanding increase in the output of the mine. At this time, Long Rake Spar Co. Ltd employed twelve miners and produced 12,200 tons of Calcite (Derbyshire Spar) and 100 tons of Lead Ore every year. This product was distributed across the UK.
1920s
1970s
Derbyshire Silica Firebrick
In the 1970s, Captain Percy Potter sold Long Rake Spar Co. to Derbyshire Silica Firebrick (DSF). The company continued as Long Rake Spar Co. Ltd., with only two men mining the Spar. The surface plant began processing material from other mines and quarries. In the late 1970s, the previously flooded 500 level was drained and explored.
The Broadhurst Dynasty
In 1985, Long Rake Spar Co Ltd was taken over by T and T Broadhurst. Trevor Broadhurst, his father Tom and his mother Jean bought the company and immediately began to expand the facilities at the plant and the variety of aggregates that Long Rake Spar supplied.
1985
1998
Grantex was founded
The 1990s saw significant investment in technology and infrastructure, with major improvements to drying facilities and bagging equipment.
This development enabled the company to expand its product offering, culminating in the launch of the Grantex range in 1998, which supplies dried aggregates and specialist materials to a variety of industries.
The expansion continues
In 2009, Long Rake Spar acquired their Prees site. This acquisition facilitated an increase in decorative aggregates output of an additional 100,000 tonnes per annum. This dedicated production facility in Shropshire delivers high-volume output from a compact 6-acre footprint.
2009
2015
Site investment
In 2015, Long Rake Spar expanded with a new 20-acre strategic dock site in Rye Harbour, East Sussex, offering valuable storage, manufacturing capacity, and overseas shipping access. It is strategically placed only 15km from the channel tunnel, making this key for the export and import of our goods.
Another Modern Dockside Facility
Five years later in 2020, we further invested in a 10-acre site at Garston Docks in Liverpool. This dock site provides increased dockside storage, as well as production facilities, stockholding, and overall production capability. It currently produces over 150,000 tonnes of finished stock annually, and has four fully robotic packing lines.
2020
2020
The Story Continues Today...
Grantex and Long Rake Spar Co. Ltd continues to be one of the largest importers and suppliers of aggregates to the trade, including contractors, landscapers, manufacturers, councils and businesses in the UK and across the world, with a strong export market. With Trevor Broadhurst at the helm, the business focuses on providing excellent quality and service. They have strategically located production and distribution facilities across the UK to maintain a sustainable supply chain, production facilities, stockholding and overall production capability.
Looking to the Future
With our strategically placed dock and production sites throughout the UK and a stock holding in excess of £8 million across the Long Rake Spar group, the only way is up. We’re looking to continually increase our capacities, import and export capabilities, and state-of-the-art facilities to upkeep our holding as the UK’s leading supplier of specialist and decorative aggregates.
2020
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