The Slate Quarry

The film, made by Sam Hanna, follows the process of producing slate roofing tiles. After a map of the location is shown (Burlington Quarry near Kirby-in-Furness), there are views of the South Cumbrian hills before the film moves in to the quarry itself. Workers drill and break up the rock and slabs are removed and transported in trucks to the cutting shed. Slates are split and dressed, waste is deposited and the finished slates are taken away from the quarry to be weighed and loaded on to rail wagons to continue their journey. The film ends with shots of workers using the finished slate to tile the roof of a new house.