LORD Cavendish was a key influence behind the design of Burlington Slate’s new showpiece head office, reported The Mail in February 1991.

The building, half of which was finished in the natural slate the company quarried, was named Cavendish House after the peer, whose family had owned the firm since the 16th century.

Visitors to the building walked through an entrance based on the traditional entrance to a sale mine, with one slate laid on another to create a perfect arch.

Around half of the L-shaped building had been finished in the natural slate the company quarried.

Inside, the floors and stairs were covered with polished and split slates in shades from blue to silver.

The whole idea was to show that slate could be used inside a house as well as outside, the company said.

Sales director Harold Ogden said: “As the trend to use natural materials continues, we want to highlight the qualities of our slate products - where better to begin than in our own offices.”

In 1992 Burlington Slate published a series of 20 miniature picture cards covering all aspects of the company’s history, operations and products.

The set was believed to be a first within the slate industry.

The series - the brainchild of Burlington Slate’s sales director Harold Ogden - featured a colour picture on the front, with a succinct narrative relating to the illustration on the back.

Topics covered included roofing, carving, polishing, riving and dressing.

The set had been printed as a limited edition and was available from the company.

Sets cost £5, with proceeds being donated to St Mary’s Hospice at Ulverston.

“We are always looking at new and unusual ways of promoting Burlington Slate and its products and we certainly feel we have hit upon a rather unusual idea, not seen for quite some considerable time now,” said Mr Ogden.