Electronic waste recycling specialist Intelligent Waste Management Ltd (iWaste) stepped out of its comfort zone to deliver vital stone to one of Britain’s most famous royal palaces.
The Reading-based company shipped between one and two tonnes of Pooil Vaaish stone from a quarry on the Isle of Man to historic Hampton Court Palace in West London. This followed on from a long-standing professional relationship which has seen iWaste regularly collect e-waste from the Palace for a decade.
iWaste’s HGV Driver Gavin Costello led the firm’s five-day operation to collect the stone which will be used to help preserve The Chapel Royal, where Kings and Queens have worshipped for centuries.
Gavin has just celebrated 10 years with iWaste, which was founded in 2013, and is the company’s longest-serving employee.
He drove one of the company’s 18-tonne vehicles to fetch the last remaining stock of the stone from the quarry, which has now closed, utilising specialist loading and packing techniques to prevent damage.
After two ferry crossings, four overnight stops and more than 500 miles on the road, the stone was delivered safely and securely to Hampton Court Palace, where it will play an important role in preserving the historic royal building which Henry VIII made his home.
Pooil Vaaish is a black limestone unique to the Isle of Man and was much favoured by 17th century architect Sir Christopher Wren, who used it in St Paul’s Cathedral, among other buildings.
Pronounced ‘pool vash’ it has been quarried on the island’s Scarlet peninsula since the 1300s. The stone transforms from a matt grey colour to a reflective black when polished.
iWaste Director Sam Mountain said:
“Projects like this demonstrate that logistics is about far more than simply moving goods from A to B. Every collection requires meticulous planning, careful handling, specialist load restraint, and a commitment to protecting valuable and often irreplaceable materials throughout every stage of the journey – a standard we set ourselves for our normal collection services."
“We are incredibly proud of Gavin, for his professionalism, attention to detail and commitment to safety throughout the operation. He was the perfect person for the job. From the initial collection on the Isle of Man to the final delivery at Hampton Court Palace, every stage of the project was completed with the highest standards of care.”
A spokesperson for Historic Royal Palaces said:
“We are indebted to iWaste, with whom we have had a successful working arrangement for a decade, for going the extra mile to deliver us this vital component."
“This stone will help us, as custodians, to go on preserving our most iconic royal palaces for generations to come. The Chapel Royal, which dates from 1518, is a perfect example of this.”
International façade design and engineering consultancy Fortis Facades Ltd was also involved with ensuring the project ran successfully.
