Calcaires de la Sambre

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Since 1821

Jacques-Aubin DOLBEAU was a Frenchman, from Paris, who first noticed the white rocks bordering the Sambre. A survivor of the Battle of Waterloo, he decided to rent the quarry from the local administration and started mining in 1821 as he had promised.

The development of the Landelies quarry intensified as a result of the expansion of the iron and steel industry of the Charleroi basin.

Its geographical situation, along the Sambre is an additional asset for transporting the products.

About 1855, Jules FREZON and Co. took over the operation of the St Louis quarry from Jacques-Aubin Dolbeau. They had built the first crusher mill in order to meet the ever-increasing demand from the glass factories of the region.

In 1874, Mr. WARGNY opened up a new quarry on both sides of the Chemin du Cerisier.

Front view of the Sambre Limestone Quarry (about 1930)

Loading of a barge for the Upper Sambre (about 1930)

Grading drum (1998) still in use. It has been builded in 1968 to produce rubble stones from 2 to 10 kilos.

Looking down on the quarry (2007), including in particular the new crusher installation

Calcaires de la Sambre S.A. came into being when he pulled out in 1921. Fifty years later, the two operations came together.

In 2000, a geological study was ordered to find out what the remaining reserves were. According to this study and, given the substantial remaining quantities, new crusher equipment saw the light in January 2007.

Today, with the changing techniques and a long experience, Les Calcaires de la Sambre produces between 600,000 and 700,000 tonnes per annum, of which 200,000 tonnes are industrial products.