IT seems almost inconceivable now, but it was well within living memory that the Malvern Hills were being quarried for stone.

And a glance at the Gazette 50 years ago this week shows some of the consequences of quarrying that people had to endure.

"Damage being caused to ceilings and walls of houses in the village by quarry blasting was one of the matters raised at Wednesday night's meeting of West Malvern Electors' Association at the Parish Hall.

"The association was revived at a well-attended meeting after being in abeyance through lack of support and apathy since February 1958.

"Raising the question of quarry blasting Mrs M Griffith said one could actually see the vibration on ceil;ings and walls of houses when there was blasting. Walls and ceilings were cracking. 'We get this blasting twice a day,' she said.

" 'One way to cure it is to stop quarrying,' remarked Councillor King.

"Councillor Mitchell said if that was done there would be a number of people living in West Malvern out of work. He thought that point should be borne in mind. Some families had for generations worked at the quarries, he said.

"Councillor Squibb said he knew of people who had taken the matter up with a solicitor and had been paid compensation for damage done to their property. The quarry people had paid for damage to council property 'You are probably suffering more from blasting now because the quarry is getting further into the hills,' he said.