1. Background
The Derbyshire village of Stoney Middleton located in the White Peak can be traced back to Roman times. It’s famous for its proximity to the plague village of Eyam and its location just due west of Middleton Dale meant it has also become a major centre for Peak District rock climbers. The valley of carboniferous limestone (calcium carbonate) has meant that Middleton Dale has been quarried for hundreds of years to produce lime and to provide stone for the construction industry. Stoney Middleton stone can be found in numerous important buildings including the nearby Chatsworth House, Windsor Castle, Houses of Parliament, and the Bank of England.
Early methods of quarrying were rudimentary and relied on manpower to split and break up the rocks with little mechanisation beyond a horse and cart. The use of gunpowder in blasting at the beginning of the 19th century significantly increased production and led to the established limestone quarrying as we know it today. Quarries like the ones in Stoney Middleton have led to the Peak District becoming Britain’s largest lime and limestone producer.
Gang of quarrymen at Goddard’s quarry:
There is also an extensive system of caves that are connected to old lead mine shafts.
2. The Pictures
We had a look round three old quarries that stand side by side near Stoney Middleton along the dale
(I) Goddard’s Quarry
The former Goddard's limestone quarry, now restored and returned to nature, is the closest of the three quarries to Stoney Middleton. During the sixties, the main road was frequently closed to traffic while blasting took place in Goddard’s Quarry, which is currently the property of R.M.C.Roadstone Ltd. It’s popular with climbers and the smallest of the three. No buildings remain, just the long main quarry face with its three, layered galleries and its distinctive red rocks at the bottom of the quarry.
Not sure what this purple mineral is here:
But I think this fossil is a brachiopod:
(II) Darlton Quarry
Opposite Lovers Leap Garage, this is the middle of the three quarries. This is the only one of the three quarries that has a few buildings remaining, albeit sealed tight. It was recently on the market with estate agent Fisher German but am unsure if it sold.
The two galleried main wall:
The former quarry buildings, all sealed tight:
A spade or a ******* shovel?
(III) Hidden Quarry (formerly Darlton 2)
Not much info on this place. This was the largest quarry of the three. It has 68 climbing routes spread over seven different areas of the quarry.
The impressive three galleried quarried cliff is popular with the climbing fraternity:
View from the first gallery of the cliff face:
The Derbyshire village of Stoney Middleton located in the White Peak can be traced back to Roman times. It’s famous for its proximity to the plague village of Eyam and its location just due west of Middleton Dale meant it has also become a major centre for Peak District rock climbers. The valley of carboniferous limestone (calcium carbonate) has meant that Middleton Dale has been quarried for hundreds of years to produce lime and to provide stone for the construction industry. Stoney Middleton stone can be found in numerous important buildings including the nearby Chatsworth House, Windsor Castle, Houses of Parliament, and the Bank of England.
Early methods of quarrying were rudimentary and relied on manpower to split and break up the rocks with little mechanisation beyond a horse and cart. The use of gunpowder in blasting at the beginning of the 19th century significantly increased production and led to the established limestone quarrying as we know it today. Quarries like the ones in Stoney Middleton have led to the Peak District becoming Britain’s largest lime and limestone producer.
Gang of quarrymen at Goddard’s quarry:
There is also an extensive system of caves that are connected to old lead mine shafts.
2. The Pictures
We had a look round three old quarries that stand side by side near Stoney Middleton along the dale
(I) Goddard’s Quarry
The former Goddard's limestone quarry, now restored and returned to nature, is the closest of the three quarries to Stoney Middleton. During the sixties, the main road was frequently closed to traffic while blasting took place in Goddard’s Quarry, which is currently the property of R.M.C.Roadstone Ltd. It’s popular with climbers and the smallest of the three. No buildings remain, just the long main quarry face with its three, layered galleries and its distinctive red rocks at the bottom of the quarry.
Not sure what this purple mineral is here:
But I think this fossil is a brachiopod:
(II) Darlton Quarry
Opposite Lovers Leap Garage, this is the middle of the three quarries. This is the only one of the three quarries that has a few buildings remaining, albeit sealed tight. It was recently on the market with estate agent Fisher German but am unsure if it sold.
The two galleried main wall:
The former quarry buildings, all sealed tight:
A spade or a ******* shovel?
(III) Hidden Quarry (formerly Darlton 2)
Not much info on this place. This was the largest quarry of the three. It has 68 climbing routes spread over seven different areas of the quarry.
The impressive three galleried quarried cliff is popular with the climbing fraternity:
View from the first gallery of the cliff face:
