Drumhead Quarry opened between 1797 (when an estate map shows only Thorneydyke Quarry a727.2190) and 1820 (when the Johnstone of Alva archives in Clackmannan Council Library mention it as already operating). The 1861 OS map shows an extensive quarry with a crane in the northern half. By this date the operators were evidently seeking the higher quality stone at deep depths. On the 1899 OS map it is marked as "Old Quarry" and was already inactive.
Drumhead sandstone was initially carted to Stirling and used locally around the Falkirk area.
The New Statistical Account mentions four quarries in Dunipace "all producing superior sandstone." These quarries employed 40 individuals. One quarry "abounds with excellent flag or pavement stone, which has an extensive sale. Considerable quantities of these flags are carried in carts and boats to a great distance." This would have been the Drumhead Quarry, for we have a letter of 20 April 1820 from George Easton (Denovan Estate factor) to James Johnstone: "John Ferguson will make a good deal of money in his quarry at Drumhead. it produces the best quality of any pavement ever known in this place from one to six inches of thickness without any heughing..." (58/35 CCL). John ferguson is the first known operator of Drumhead Quarry. In 1822 he made a contract with the Glasgow architect John Baird "for a twelvemonth to deliver him 36 tons of pavement every week to be laid down at the canal for paving the streets of Glasgow" (60/55 CCL). For this the use of the Forth and Clyde Canal was essential. It lies 2km to the south and would have necessitated an initial journey by cart.
On 9 May 1822 both the Glasgow Courier and the Edinburgh Evening Courant reported that the fist shipment to pass the length of the newly opened Union Canal was of Drumhead paving stone. Temporary storage appears to have been arranged at Lock 16 (60/55 CCL, 1 April 1822) and deliveries were also made to Linlithgow. On 14 November 1822 (25/37 CCL) George Easton reported to James Johnstone on the influence of the canals "The freestone quarries appear to be doing very well especially John Ferguson who has a great demand to Edinburgh by the New Canal and also to other places."
Just how well he was doing is indicated on 17 January 1824 "John Ferguson is undoubtedly making a good deal of money from [the quarry]. It is said he sometimes clears £10 per day if he is careful. He need not care whether he gets a new lease or not as he may make an independent fortune during the present one." (60/77 CCL). Later that year it was noted that the quarry was expanding to the east and northwest (22/21 CCL, 20 April 1824). The lease remained under Ferguson until 1828, by which time he had requested a further 5 year extension. However, an article from the Stirling Journal of 18 March 1830 shows that he did not get it. "John Gow, builder in Denny, begs leave respectfully to intimate that, having lately taken from James Raymond Johnstone, Esq of Alva, his Flag Quarry of Denovan, as well known throughout the whole country for the excellent quality of the Flagstones, he has at present on hand and will always keep a regular supply of flag stones from one inch to one foot thick for jambs, hearths, and flats and stones of all dimensions for stairs, cisterns, oven soles and division for byres, etc. The quality of the stone is excellent... and J.G. can confidently assure the public that they are well worthy of their attention... The prices are very moderate. Orders addressed to J.G. or his Overseer at the Quarry, will meet with the most prompt attention. Denovan Flag Quarry." John Gow was known as "the builder of Milton".
In 1831 Drumhead Quarry was being expanded. Estimates were called upon for drilling a 900ft mine (or level) (Stirling Journal 27 Jan 1831). This was to assist in draining the quarry, as the sandstone was being chased below the water line. The quarry had already had drainage problems. On 17 January 1824 Easton had noted "[Ferguson] now sees his error in not making his leavel deeper as it will soon fail him in carrying the water as the rock dips so greatly on the east..." (60/77 CCL).
By the time of the 1865/6 Scottish valuation rolls (SC4/3/3) Drumhead Quarry was occupied by the heirs of John Gow on the 19 year lease. The Johnstone family had sold the estate to William Forbes in 1839. The 1880/1 valuation roll has William Simpson as the occupier of Drumhead and Thorneydyke Quarries. Simpson was a Stirling architect and designed such buildings as Milton Grove, Whins of Milton (c1879); the Custom House, Bo'ness (c1880); Albert Hall (c1881); and Dunipace Parish Church (c1888).
In the 1885/6 valuation rolls the quarry at Denovan was operated by David Short and John Devlin (builder & contractor) of Glasgow. Short was the son of a Denny mason who moved to Glasgow, and Devlin was a sawyer whose son was a carpenter. By 1886/7 the same source gives the quarry as unlet.