When Manchester Town Hall was completed in 1877, the city—and the quarry that supplied its roofing slate—were both firmly in Lancashire. Designed by Liverpool-born and therefore Lancashire lad, architect Alfred Waterhouse, the building was a proud statement of civic ambition and Victorian design. Fittingly, Waterhouse selected a roofing material rooted in the same county: Burlington blue/grey slate from the quarry at
Kirkby-in-Furness.
Today, our quarry technically lies in Westmorland and Furness, a newly formed county as of April 2023. Previously part of Cumbria (from 1974) and Lancashire (prior to that), the location of the Kirkby Moor quarry is a geographical story in itself. This shifting county identity has led us to adopt the more widely understood label of Burlington blue/grey, helping clarify why a traditional “Lancashire” slate is sourced from what is now Cumbria.
A tradition in slate, evolved
The Burlington quarry has been producing blue/grey slate since the late 16th century, primarily in random sized slates suited for diminishing courses. This was not only a regional aesthetic preference but also an early example of material efficiency— maximising usable slate from irregular and varied sized block.
Today, we continues this practice but also offers set slate sizes and fixed-length x random-width formats. This expanded range allows architects and conservationists to specify slate with precision while preserving traditional visual language.
Interestingly, Waterhouse was ahead of his time. For Manchester Town Hall’s prominent elevations, he requested set-sized slates to enable banding effects using another Cumbrian material—Westmorland green slate. Sourced from volcanic ash beds of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, Westmorland green slate had historically only been produced in random sizes due to the nature of the rock.
Looking back on this request our Sales Director Ian Ramsay believes Waterhouse must have been a pretty persuasive individual. “Convincing the quarry to manufacture uniform green slates in the 19th century would have been no small feat. In modern times, however, We have developed methods to saw and calibrate Westmorland green slate to thickness before texturing and edge-dressing. These calibrated slates have been used for the current restoration to replicate Waterhouse’s original design intent faithfully.”
Restoring an icon
Heritage consultants Purcell, led by Jamie Coath, undertook extensive research to establish the provenance and specification of the original roofing slate. Working closely with Burlington, they began by surveying the existing roofs with Burlington’s team before visiting the quarry to confirm the correct sizes, grades and colour match. The wider restoration of the Town Hall was led by Manchester City Council with Mace as project managers, and early engagement with Burlington ensured a seamless and reliable material supply.
Ian explains: “Although the original slate—now 148 years old—might have lasted another 50 years, the decision was taken to use new slate throughout. This not only maximised long-term value but also reduced programme risk by avoiding reliance on reclaimed stock.”
In total, 375 tonnes of Burlington blue/grey and Westmorland green slate were supplied to re-slate nearly 7,000m² of roof area across 84 different slopes. Twenty-four slate sizes were used, installed by subcontractors Greenough & Sons and MAC Roofing, under main contractor Lendlease.
Manchester Town Hall’s renewed roof is both a technical achievement and a tribute to the material heritage of the north. Burlington slate continues to tell its story—one shaped by geology, craftsmanship, and the evolving boundaries of England itself.
The completion of Manchester Town Hall’s restoration is expected by mid-2026.