Delabole

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Delabole
Delabole shown within Cornwall
Population	2,500 (2001 Estimate)
OS grid reference	SX070840
Parish	St Teath
District	North Cornwall
Shire county	Cornwall
Region	South West
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BODMIN
Postcode district	PL33
Dialling code	01840
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Cornwall
Ambulance	South Western
European Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	North Cornwall
List of places: UK • England • Cornwall

Coordinates: 50°40′24″N 4°40′04″W / 50.6734, -4.6677

Delabole is a village in North Cornwall, England. It is the third highest village in Cornwall, the two highest are also in the North Cornwall district. Delabole was the birth place of the Cornwall Air Ambulance. Delabole has a few businesses including Delabole Quarry.

The village of Delabole came into existence in the 20th century; it is named after the Delabole Quarry. There were three hamlets: Pengelly, Medrose and Rockhead. When the railway arrived, the Station was named Delabole after the quarry, and the three hamlets merged in order to keep the name continuous and to prevent confusion.

The village is now renowned for its annual carnival, one of the biggest in Cornwall. It was revived in 2001 after a break of nearly forty years. The week of events takes place in July each year.

The village has a King George V Playing Field.

Delabole slate quarry.

[edit] The quarry

The Delabole slate quarry is one of the largest of its type in England and has run continuously since the 15th century making it the oldest working slate quarry in England. In the reign of Elizabeth I the five quarries on the site of the now larger pit assumed considerable importance delivering slate to Brittany and the Netherlands. In 1841 the five quarries combined to make the Old Delabole Slate Quarry.

The Old Delabole Slate Quarry was liquidated in 1977 by the company's bankers. It ran under receivership and was run by Rio Tinto Zinc until 1999 when a local management team bought it out. The quarry is now under ownership of a local family. In 1910, 500 people were employed at the quarry but this has since reduced to 80, the decline due to the availability of cheaper roofing materials.

Delabole Quarry was once the deepest man made pit in the world, but this is no longer the case due to massive open cast mines and quarries in America and Australia.