More than a century of history is winding down at Meldon Quarry — machinery and equipment is being dismantled and buildings demolished as the quarry is being closed indefinitely.

Bardon Aggregates, the company that runs operations at the quarry, decided to stop production at Meldon, following the fall in requirement for rail ballast and the difficult economic climate.

The decision was made following a 'comprehensive consultation process' with affected employees. The company employed eight people at the site.

A spokesman for Bardon Aggregates said: 'The situation as it stands is that the quarry has now been mothballed, and the company is reviewing the assets of the site, including machinery and other equipment.

'The removal of equipment is so that we can safely secure the site. Sometimes equipment will be taken to other sites so that it can be used elsewhere, but in this case the main focus is to secure the site.

'We will be leaving the quarry in a condition that the mining of minerals at the site could be started up again if that decision were made.'

West Devon Borough and Devon county councillor Christine Marsh was saddened by events at the quarry: 'Some of the buildings I believe are being demolished, equipment is being sold for scrap and might even be exported. This is sad after 124 years of service.

'The site has such a long history, and I am sure it has some interesting stories to tell. But it is a sign of the times, with so many businesses struggling right now.'

The closure of Meldon will bring to an end more than 100 years of production at the site.

The quarry was founded almost by accident, coming about as the result of the railway line construction two to three miles west of Okehampton.

During construction of the track in about 1874, the workmen's progress was impeded by the hard local rock.

The Dartmoor stone was found to be very durable and therefore suitable for ballast on the track. Before long the rock was being taken further afield for use on the construction of other train lines.

The quarry was officially established in 1897, but had been providing work at the site for years before that.

After passenger train services to Okehampton, Bow, North Tawton and Sampford Courtenay were scrapped in 1972, the railway line survived thanks to the activities of the quarry.

British American Railway Services Ltd, which became the owner of Dartmoor Railway, is currently developing freight, passenger and tourist services for the Okehampton line.

The future of the railway and the re-opening of the Okehampton to Exeter line is thought to be secure, despite the quarry closure, with news of a £1.8-million cash injection by Devon County Council to build a business site on the edge of town which could house the town's parkway rail station.

The service on the line could possibly be implemented as early as May 2012, with the county council having already given £250,000 to that scheme through its 'Investing in Devon' funds.

Details on the quarry's history were kindly supplied by local historian Mike Wreford.