A Somerset quarry used for more than 2,000 years has been put up for sale near Shepton Mallet.

Doulting Stone Quarry has been brought to market by Watling Real Estate and Savills on behalf of the joint fixed charge receivers, offering buyers the chance to take on a long-running stone operation with major reserves and scope for expansion.

The 65.76-acre site is known for Doulting Limestone, a material used in heritage and construction projects including Wells Cathedral and Guildford Cathedral, as well as more traditional building work.

Agents say the quarry holds an estimated 900,000 tonnes of stone reserves, putting a substantial working site on the market in one of Somerset's best-known quarrying areas.

There is no public asking price, with Watling Real Estate listing the sale as price on application.

That leaves a historic Shepton-area quarry open to offers, either as a whole or in separate parts.

Chris Davies, director in the Bristol office of Watling Real Estate, said: "This is a truly unique opportunity for a purchaser to acquire a substantial quarry operation with both expansion and future development prospects.

"Watling Real Estate's depth and experience in dealing with a broad spectrum of real estate assets means we are well placed to assist stakeholders in instances such as this, ensuring value is delivered for all parties involved."

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The site, near the A361, currently has permission for up to 6,000 tonnes of building stone to be extracted each year until 2041.

There is also planning consent, subject to conditions, for the export of 14,000 tonnes of aggregates, along with a new access point directly off the A361, though that has not yet been implemented.

Watling Real Estate and joint agents Savills are now seeking offers for the freehold.

For Shepton Mallet, it puts one of the area's oldest working stone sites back in the spotlight — with any new owner taking on both a commercial quarry and a slice of Somerset history.

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