history

Sibelco UK has played a pioneering role in the UK minerals industry. We have been producing world-renowned ball clays from the deposits of the Bovey Basin in South Devon and the Petrockstowe Basin in North Devon for over 300 years. Since 1873 we have also produced kaolin (china clay) from the deposits of south-western Dartmoor.

Clays from these deposits have been used by manufacturers of white-bodied pottery since the days of the famous 18th century potters such as Josiah Wedgwood, Astbury and Spode. Nowadays our products (which still retain the original WBB brand name) are shipped to over 80 countries around the world to be used in the manufacture of sanitaryware, tiles, tableware and structural ceramic products.

The origins of our silica sand business can be traced back to the early twentieth century when the company was providing essential raw materials for the manufacture of ammunition and glass during the war. Over the years the range of applications utilising silica sand has increased dramatically and an indigenous supply of this geologically rare mineral is as important as ever.

You can lean more about the history of Devon’s ball clay industry via: www.clayheritage.org