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Report - - Harborough Rocks Quarry, Brassington, Derbyshire, March 2022 | Mines and Quarries | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Harborough Rocks Quarry, Brassington, Derbyshire, March 2022

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HughieD

28DL Regular User
Regular User
1. The History
Lying 379 above sea level, Harboro' Rocks (or Harborough Rocks) is a dolomitic limestone hill near the village of Brassington in the Derbyshire Peak District. In the nearby cave is a natural cavern in the rocks where archaeologists have found evidence of human occupants since the Ice Age. Satirist author Daniel Defoe makes reference in his book “Tour thro' the whole Island of Great Britain” in 1726 to a poor family of seven living in the cave. The father was a lead miner and was "lean as a skeleton, pale as a dead corps" but that they "seemed to live very pleasantly".

Map of the area:

51975106014_7b31c792ec_b.jpg


The area is dotted with mine shafts of lead mining. The biggest and best known mine is Golconda lead mine, on the north-east side of the hill. Part of the Gell family's Griffe Grange mining liberty, it ran from the summit of Harboro' Rocks to Via Gellia. The mine dates back to the 1700s and the mine shaft is over 100 metres (330 ft) deep. Golconda is a name used for wealthy mines, after the famous Indian Golconda diamond mine. The mine's tunnels enter natural caverns such as the Great Shack. After closing in 1913, the mine was reopened in 1915 to mine baryte until 1953.

To the south are the remains of some old works at the foot of Harborough Rocks. There’s scant history on it, but it is likely it was an old crushing plant for limestone quarried from nearby.

2. The Explore
Bit of a curiosity this place. Not been reported on before as you wouldn’t go out of your way to see here. However, it does have a bit of charm about it and there’s enough to keep you busy for three-quarters-of-an-hour or so. We were en-route from somewhere else so thought it was rude not to pop in. There’s not a lot left in true and even lesser on the place’s history. The main site with the concrete pillars is very photogenic though and looks like some sort of Inca temple.

3. The Pictures

First thing you pass is this bricked up old farm:



51950917301_3a95bfb6a7_b.jpg


Initially thought this was a mine adit. Given it is very shall, maybe a small icehouse for the farm next door?

51953175846_4c0be4a042_b.jpg


Inside looking out:

51953249023_2a7cb46c59_b.jpg


Random iron box. For collecting rainwater maybe?

51953175576_5b91d4393f_b.jpg


Not too sure what this is:

51953485219_a371073590_b.jpg


Next to the cave entrance is this little brick building:

51949939577_1fb24394fc_b.jpg


And a quick peek into the cave mentioned above in the history:

51953248523_afc6af4a5c_b.jpg


This looks like the base of some circular storage facility:

51953484969_5f3d0ece37_b.jpg


On to the two-room generator building:

51950995018_2fe5b37305_b.jpg


The first room is empty:

51952191457_580b81f287_b.jpg


Round to the second room has got some of the old gear in there.

51949941907_c870faa529_b.jpg


This looks to be quite old:

51953484344_873981a4cb_b.jpg


51953173701_e4cd1cbcf5_b.jpg


51950999523_8eb9b31d25_b.jpg


On to the main attraction via this old random iron bucket:

51951232204_e650625472_b.jpg


Overview with the rocks in the background:

51953174161_690a665d13_b.jpg


Full frontal shot:

51953247398_3b394d6af4_b.jpg


Back view of the columns:

51950995493_da93ab3320_b.jpg


51953775205_ce60cce0fb_b.jpg


And a random cement staircase:

51949940267_38f9d87489_b.jpg


OK, that’s it for this curious little place:

51949941322_7d7c72f96e_b.jpg


51951231159_341ff440d0_b.jpg


Nothing too spectacular but hope you enjoyed it all the same...
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Interesting site this. Very intriguing ancient monument site. The family of seven is also interesting. I may have to do some reading on this. Lovely images as per. Nice stop off.
 

Mr Sam

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
Always wondered what the columns were when I've cycled past. The old farmhouse was last used as a bunk house for a scout group.
 

tokyomatilda

28DL Full Member
28DL Full Member
1. The History
Lying 379 above sea level, Harboro' Rocks (or Harborough Rocks) is a dolomitic limestone hill near the village of Brassington in the Derbyshire Peak District. In the nearby cave is a natural cavern in the rocks where archaeologists have found evidence of human occupants since the Ice Age. Satirist author Daniel Defoe makes reference in his book “Tour thro' the whole Island of Great Britain” in 1726 to a poor family of seven living in the cave. The father was a lead miner and was "lean as a skeleton, pale as a dead corps" but that they "seemed to live very pleasantly".

Map of the area:

51975106014_7b31c792ec_b.jpg


The area is dotted with mine shafts of lead mining. The biggest and best known mine is Golconda lead mine, on the north-east side of the hill. Part of the Gell family's Griffe Grange mining liberty, it ran from the summit of Harboro' Rocks to Via Gellia. The mine dates back to the 1700s and the mine shaft is over 100 metres (330 ft) deep. Golconda is a name used for wealthy mines, after the famous Indian Golconda diamond mine. The mine's tunnels enter natural caverns such as the Great Shack. After closing in 1913, the mine was reopened in 1915 to mine baryte until 1953.

To the south are the remains of some old works at the foot of Harborough Rocks. There’s scant history on it, but it is likely it was an old crushing plant for limestone quarried from nearby.

2. The Explore
Bit of a curiosity this place. Not been reported on before as you wouldn’t go out of your way to see here. However, it does have a bit of charm about it and there’s enough to keep you busy for three-quarters-of-an-hour or so. We were en-route from somewhere else so thought it was rude not to pop in. There’s not a lot left in true and even lesser on the place’s history. The main site with the concrete pillars is very photogenic though and looks like some sort of Inca temple.

3. The Pictures

First thing you pass is this bricked up old farm:



51950917301_3a95bfb6a7_b.jpg


Initially thought this was a mine adit. Given it is very shall, maybe a small icehouse for the farm next door?

51953175846_4c0be4a042_b.jpg


Inside looking out:

51953249023_2a7cb46c59_b.jpg


Random iron box. For collecting rainwater maybe?

51953175576_5b91d4393f_b.jpg


Not too sure what this is:

51953485219_a371073590_b.jpg


Next to the cave entrance is this little brick building:

51949939577_1fb24394fc_b.jpg


And a quick peek into the cave mentioned above in the history:

51953248523_afc6af4a5c_b.jpg


This looks like the base of some circular storage facility:

51953484969_5f3d0ece37_b.jpg


On to the two-room generator building:

51950995018_2fe5b37305_b.jpg


The first room is empty:

51952191457_580b81f287_b.jpg


Round to the second room has got some of the old gear in there.

51949941907_c870faa529_b.jpg


This looks to be quite old:

51953484344_873981a4cb_b.jpg


51953173701_e4cd1cbcf5_b.jpg


51950999523_8eb9b31d25_b.jpg


On to the main attraction via this old random iron bucket:

51951232204_e650625472_b.jpg


Overview with the rocks in the background:

51953174161_690a665d13_b.jpg


Full frontal shot:

51953247398_3b394d6af4_b.jpg


Back view of the columns:

51950995493_da93ab3320_b.jpg


51953775205_ce60cce0fb_b.jpg


And a random cement staircase:

51949940267_38f9d87489_b.jpg


OK, that’s it for this curious little place:

51949941322_7d7c72f96e_b.jpg


51951231159_341ff440d0_b.jpg


Nothing too spectacular but hope you enjoyed it all the same...
Think I’m going to check this out, near to me but looks amazing. However when I type in harborough rocks nothing comes up.
 

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