St. Marys Lead Works

01/07/2026

With the hot weather predicted to continue, even the keenest may be dreaming of some features! ☀️🌿

Decorative can be a brilliant option for raised beds and planting schemes, helping to create a neat, tidy finish while also helping with and reducing how much bare soil is exposed to the sun.

They work especially well with plants that enjoy free-draining conditions, such as:

✅ lavender
✅ rosemary
✅ thyme
✅ ornamental grasses
✅ olive trees and Mediterranean-style planting

In the right setting, gravel mulch can also help the soil hold onto moisture by reducing evaporation from the surface, which can be especially useful during long, dry spells.

That said, in very hot weather, gravel also holds heat, so it is best used with drought-tolerant rather than around plants that may struggle if their roots, crowns or stems get too hot.

So, if you are thinking about refreshing a raised bed or border, our can be a smart, attractive and lower-maintenance choice, particularly for the schemes that thrive in the heat.

If you are not sure which gravel would best suit your planting or project, just ask the St. Mary’s team. We are always happy to offer practical advice.

☎️ 01579 347008 / 07484 060696
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.stmarysleadworks.co.uk

30/06/2026

Always happy to support where we can 😎

Why not join in the Dumpy Bag Race kindly sponsored by St Mary's Building Supplies & Concrete in the Main Ring at the end of Liskeard Show day on Saturday 11th July.

Great fun! www.liskeardshow.org

Picture kindly supplied by Jon Harris Photography who will be capturing the show behind the lens again this year.

27/06/2026

Looking for a trusted local supplier for building or construction works, DIY or landscaping projects?

Get to know St Mary's owner and operator, Lee Crocker. Local to Plymouth and Cornwall, and dedicated member of the (Plymouth Argyle supporter, for non-football fans... if such a thing exists!?).

We caught up with Lee for a quick Q&A about how St. Mary’s got started, what customers ask most often, and what keeps the team busy at this time of year…

❓HOW DID ST MARY'S GET STARTED?
Lee: "My dad Geoff and I started the business back in 2004 in Menheniot, working from a yard called St. Mary’s Leadworks. We had five storage bays for materials, a wooden hut as the office, and an old telehandler for loading. We've grown a bit since then!

❓ARE THERE ANY COMMON MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN ORDERING CONCRETE OR AGGREGATES?
Lee: "Getting the quantities wrong is probably the big one - but we can help solve that. With volumetric concrete mixed on site, customers only pay for what they actually use."

❓WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE PROJECT RECENTLY?
Lee: "Helping supply a friend’s house project, which involved hundreds of tonnes for the patio, garden and driveway. It was a great example of how the right materials can help bring a full outdoor scheme together."

❓WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS DOES ST MARY'S SUPPORT?
Lee: "We can supply a really wide range of projects, including concrete supply, concrete pumping, decorative gravels, and building supplies - we're sort of a one-stop-shop. And when it comes to collections, speed matters! Time is money in the building trade, so we help builders to be in and out, stocked up with what they need, within minutes.”

❓WHY DO BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS CHOOSE VOLUMETRIC OVER TRADITIONAL READY-MIX?
Lee: "Flexibility. If the exact quantity is hard to judge, or there is nowhere to dispose of excess concrete on site, volumetric is often the smartest option because it is mixed on site and there is no unnecessary waste."

❓WHICH PRODUCTS ARE ESPECIALLY POPULAR AT THIS TIME OF YEAR?
Lee: "Decorative gravels are flying out. St. Mary’s has one of the biggest selections around, and we're usually more cost effective than the garden center so when people start turning their attention to their gardens, driveways and outdoor spaces, demand really picks up."

❓WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH LOCAL BUILDERS & TRADESPEOPLE?
Lee: “Definitely the people - having a chat, building relationships, and being part of local projects across the area."

❓WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE PLANNING A SELF-BUILD, LANDSCAPING OR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THIS SUMMER?
Lee: “To use us 😜 !”

If you are planning a project and want practical advice, reliable supply and a team that knows the trade inside out, St. Mary’s is always happy to help.

☎️ 01579 347008 / 07484 060696
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.stmarysleadworks.co.uk

04/06/2026

With so much building and construction underway in Plymouth and the South West at the moment - to meet those government targets - it's easy to miss the smaller developments and niche projects that keep , , and just as busy.

These projects are where ⭐St. Mary’s⭐ stand out.

For over 20 years, St. Mary’s has been the dependable, local, one-stop shop for builders, contractors, self-builders and project teams working on small developments, bespoke homes, hard landscaping and day-to-day site works across Plymouth, Liskeard and surrounding areas.

We supply everything needed to keep smaller and mid-sized projects on track, including:

✅ ready-mix concrete, cement, postmix and decorative aggregates
✅ sands, grit, pea gravel, sub base, dust, clean stone and crusher run
✅ bitumen macadam and blocks
✅ screened topsoil

For our customers, it is not just about product range. It is about having a local supplier who understands lead times, responds quickly and helps keep work moving when timing matters.

So, if you are working on a self-build, smaller housing scheme, landscaping job or general building project this year, St. Mary’s is well worth having in your contacts.

☎️ 01579 347008 / 📱 07484 060696
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.stmarysleadworks.co.uk

27/05/2026

Last week kept our volumetric trucks busy, and with this lovely weather, it's a great time for , , and those working on small-scale developments to take advantage and get ahead on outdoor projects ☀️.

If you are planning a base, footing, slab, driveway or other concrete job, just remember that hot weather can make pours a bit more challenging.

A few simple tips:
✅ try to schedule pours for the cooler parts of the day
✅ make sure everything is ready before the concrete arrives
✅ work efficiently once the pour starts - it sets more quickly!
✅ do not let the concrete dry out too quickly in strong sun
✅ think about aftercare and curing for the best finish

Hot weather can be great for progress, but a little planning goes a long way.

If you need for your project in Plymouth, Devon or Cornwall, speak to the St. Mary’s team. We are always happy to offer practical advice and help you get booked in.

At busy times, we can be fully booked up to a week in advance, so it is always worth planning ahead and checking lead times with the team. We will always do our best to fit you in sooner where possible.

☎️ 01579 347008
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.stmarysleadworks.co.uk

19/05/2026

Thinking about refreshing your raised beds or bringing a Mediterranean vibe to your garden 🌺 ?

Our 20mm Golden Flint can be a great choice for this type of planting scheme. It's warm, honey and cream tones perfectly mimic the arid landscapes of the Mediterranean coast and provides a rustic backdrop that makes drought-tolerant, silver-foliaged plants pop 🌿 while beautifully complementing traditional terracotta pots.

It also helps create a neat, low-maintenance finish, acts as a w**d suppressant and improves drainage, working particularly well with ornamental grasses, lavender, and other sun-loving varieties ☀️.

We'd love to hear what our customers prefer for their raised beds... send us a pic or just let us know which decorative organic or non-organic toppings you like best and why .

And, if you are planning a raised bed, border or garden refresh and are not sure which gravel would work best, just ask our team. We are always happy to offer practical advice.

☎️ 01579 347008
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.stmarysleadworks.co.uk

13/05/2026

A recent awkward access at — proof that sometimes the most challenging locations make for the most rewarding results.

Projects like these are a good reminder that preparation, practical know-how and the right approach on site all matter, especially when access is far from easy.

Not every pour comes with views quite like these, and the effort was well worth it for those incredible, sunshiney 😍 ☀️ 😍

07/05/2026

Talk about awkward access‼️

Here’s a recent project completed over REALLY rough terrain at in Cornwall. Not the easiest site to reach, but that’s exactly where local knowledge and an experienced team make all the difference.

Whether it’s uneven ground, tight access, remote locations or a site that needs a bit more planning, St. Mary’s can help get and where they need to be.

And honestly, that view made it all worthwhile! 😍

If you’ve got a tricky project coming up and need across Cornwall, Devon or Plymouth, give us a call or send us a message for a quote.

☎️ 01579 347008
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.stmarysleadworks.co.uk

01/05/2026

We'll be closed on Monday 4th May, so if you need building supplies for your bank holiday weekend DIY project, drop by tomorrow morning, Saturday 2nd May, to stock up. We'll be open 8am - midday.

Have a great bank holiday weekend all!

29/04/2026

A lot of people think they need to over-order concrete “just in case”.

In reality, that can mean unnecessary cost 💷 & unnecessary waste 🗑️ .

One of the benefits of volumetric concrete is that it is mixed on site, helping customers order more accurately and avoid paying for more than they need. It is one of the reasons volumetric supply can be such a practical option for many jobs.

At St. Mary’s, we are always happy to talk through your project and help you understand the best option before you order

For straightforward advice from the local team with over 20 years of and experience, get in touch.

☎️ 01579 347008
✉️ [email protected]
🌐 www.stmarysleadworks.co.uk