1. The History
Eldon Hill quarry is in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England, 4km south-west of Castleton. It is a 470-metre limestone hill of pure limestone, resulting from squeezing and upfolding of geological forces to form a dome. On the northern limit of the carboniferous limestone in the Peak District, the name was first recorded in 1285 as “Elveden”, meaning 'Elves' hill'.
Quarrying permission was granted in 1950 and huge quantities of limestone were excavated, mostly for road-building purposes. Hence a big chunk of the north and north-west slopes of the hill have been gorged out. In 1995 RMC Aggregates applied to extend the quarry eastwards but this was denied as part of the tightening up on environmental problems caused by old mineral permissions granted between 1948 and 1981. Hence as a result of this, the quarry closed in 1999.
Since then there have been some attempts at natural restoration with several aquatic pools being established in the former workings and cavers can now explore some of the narrow caves exposed by the quarry, including Sidetrack Cave which was discovered in 2002.
2. The Explore
Not too much to say about this place really. Possibly one of the most brutalist quarries I’ve been to. What man-made structures were there when it was in use as a quarry are now long gone so it’s all about the rock. We rocked up on a very sunny August afternoon. To our surprise there were security at the side road up to the quarry and lots of temporary structures up on the south rim. Having chatted to the security guy, typical of our luck, the quarry was about to be used as a filming location! However, not to be beaten, we headed to the west up the footpath and then hopped over the fence to look at the western end of the quarry. Hence, we never got down to the quarry floor, but we got to see the best bit of it anyway and the views were pretty spectacular from up there. Not for the faint-hearted mind.
3. The Pictures
One of a few fossils we spotted in the limestone rocks:
Looking down the quarry eastwards. In the distance you can see the tented village for the filming:
The norther face of Eldon Hill Quarry. These terraces look almost like they were cut as roadways for lorries:
And a few phone pictures to finish off with...
Eldon Hill quarry is in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England, 4km south-west of Castleton. It is a 470-metre limestone hill of pure limestone, resulting from squeezing and upfolding of geological forces to form a dome. On the northern limit of the carboniferous limestone in the Peak District, the name was first recorded in 1285 as “Elveden”, meaning 'Elves' hill'.
Quarrying permission was granted in 1950 and huge quantities of limestone were excavated, mostly for road-building purposes. Hence a big chunk of the north and north-west slopes of the hill have been gorged out. In 1995 RMC Aggregates applied to extend the quarry eastwards but this was denied as part of the tightening up on environmental problems caused by old mineral permissions granted between 1948 and 1981. Hence as a result of this, the quarry closed in 1999.
Since then there have been some attempts at natural restoration with several aquatic pools being established in the former workings and cavers can now explore some of the narrow caves exposed by the quarry, including Sidetrack Cave which was discovered in 2002.
2. The Explore
Not too much to say about this place really. Possibly one of the most brutalist quarries I’ve been to. What man-made structures were there when it was in use as a quarry are now long gone so it’s all about the rock. We rocked up on a very sunny August afternoon. To our surprise there were security at the side road up to the quarry and lots of temporary structures up on the south rim. Having chatted to the security guy, typical of our luck, the quarry was about to be used as a filming location! However, not to be beaten, we headed to the west up the footpath and then hopped over the fence to look at the western end of the quarry. Hence, we never got down to the quarry floor, but we got to see the best bit of it anyway and the views were pretty spectacular from up there. Not for the faint-hearted mind.
3. The Pictures
One of a few fossils we spotted in the limestone rocks:
Looking down the quarry eastwards. In the distance you can see the tented village for the filming:
The norther face of Eldon Hill Quarry. These terraces look almost like they were cut as roadways for lorries:
And a few phone pictures to finish off with...
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