A Tour Across the Pond – NSA Visits the United Kingdom

By National Slate Association.  

The National Slate Association shares highlights from their trip to attend the NFRC show and visit quarries across the United Kingdom!  

The National Slate Association (NSA) has a close relationship with the slate and roofing communities across the globe, including those in the United Kingdom. This summer, members of the NSA visited the United Kingdom to tour local quarries in Whales, view historical roofs preserved in Ireland, as well as attend the NFRC show in London, England. Here are a few highlights from their remarkable tour: 

National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) Show  

The NFRC award show was held in London on May 12, 2023. The NFRC is the United Kingdom’s largest and most influential roofing trade association, promoting contractors and quality products and ensuring that its members are at the forefront of all roofing development. Nineteen awards were given out spanning categories such as Sheeting & Cladding, Small Scale Project, Roof Slating and Roof of the Year award, to name a few. The event was hosted by broadcaster Colin Murray and was a first class run award show that the United States could take a few notes from. 

Ffestiniog slate cavern 

The group toured the Deep Mine Tour by Zip World of Ffestiniog in Wales. The slate caverns were toured by a guide named Phil who was a generational “rock man.” We learned all about the work by the former miners and saw first-hand where the world-class slate was produced by local men and children, who risked their lives every day to provide the world with this famous slate.  

Credit Bob Raleigh of Renaissance Historic Exteriors and John Chan of Durable Slate for many of the pictures. 

Penrhyn quarry 

Welsh Slate hosted the group on the second day and allowed the Penrhyn quarries to be toured. We saw the current quarry, past quarries and production of the stone arriving at the mill and being processed. We were able to split slate and learn about all of the hard work it takes to get the material to the pallet for shipment. This was a professionally run organization and great to see for comparison to North American quarrying. 

Dublin slate roof tour 

After taking a ferry over to Dublin, we spent the next day viewing slate roofs around the area. Peter Lagan and Martin O’Brien of Lagan Building Solutions showed us the sites of the historic section of Dublin such as Trinity College, Christ Church, the Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The group got a chance to visit the “Temple Bar” section and take in the sights of the Irish. 

What’s next?  

Getting large groups together and planning these trips is an arduous task. The NSA extends its utmost thanks to Clay Heald of New England Slate and Michael Halle from Welsh Slate for making the trip possible. The organization of 25+ people does not go unnoticed. Moving forward, the NSA will investigate touring other quarries around the world in Spain, Argentina and China for potential trips. We will keep you notified. Thanks for reading. 

Original article source: NSA