The earliest recorded quarrying was by the first Norman Bishop of Winchester, Walkelin, who was granted half a hide of land by William the Conqueror.
William I also granted Wlkelin as much timber for the building and its scaffolding from the Forest of Hempage Wood (on the Old Alresford Road in Hampshire) as his carpenters could take in four days and nights.
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Walkelin (or Walchelin) (died 1098) was the first Norman bishop of Winchester (Norman-French Vauquelin or Gauquelin).
According to some reports, Walkelin died in 1190 at the Siege of Acre, Jerusalem.