Description: The quarry was developed by local entrepreneur Herbert Hardy (who also began the DFS furniture chain). He bought three fields of cattle-grazing land in Cromford Hill for £3,000. It was prime limestone land and his first major battle with the big boys came when he applied for planning permission to develop it as a quarry. It was fraught with opposition from the outset. But ultimately, the then Minister of Supply and three high-ranking officials from the department visited the site and were impressed by its potential, and Dene Quarries was founded. 'The stone we quarried then can now be found in buildings at the House of Commons, Buckingham Palace, the South Bank, Heathrow Airport, and various embassies. One of its side-products, marble, has gone into some magnificent homes and public buildings, and some very fine 92 per cent pure calcium limestone powder we produced was a vital ingredient during the last war, essential for food, ammunition, uniforms, paper, pharmaceuticals.' ..... extracted from http://www.businessderbyshire.co.uk/news/99/august/990831dfs.htm