1. The History
Only a very brief bit on this place. Limestone has been quarried in the High Peak area of Stoney Middleton for centuries and been a major industry and employer during the last century. The limestone here formed over 310 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period. Thousands of tons of rock have been quarried to produce minerals, metals and for the building industry in general. Originally known as Furness quarry, extensive excavation for aggregates was operated by the minerals company, Tarmac, to provided limestone for roads, steel, and cement.
After it closed in 1969, the quarry attracted climbers due to the vertical limestone walls but the quarry owner, concerned about its public liability, banned climbing, although the ban was ‘nominal’ as it wasn't strictly enforced. Eventually the quarry was purchased by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) who operate an 'open access' policy under the terms of the CROW Act. Many parts of the rock face have been 'bolted', allowing climbers to protect themselves from falls by clipping ropes into the eyebolts.
2. The Explore
Previously did a report on three quarries the other side of the road - one of which, Dalton, is currently being used as a location shoot for the next Mission Impossible movie (Tom Cruise in Stoney’s local chippie? Stranger things have happened!)
Anyhow, not too much to say here. Horseshoe is a rather nice, open access abandoned quarry. Chances are, if you have a wander round here, you’ll not be alone given this is something of a climbing hot spot. It’s a nice quarry that has multiple levels and some nice vistas and makes a pleasant way to wile away an hour or so. There are also some interesting old ex-mining shacks at the bottom by the car park which are quite photogenic too.
3. The Photographs
Opposite from the car park are the remains of a former lead mine. The entrance appears to have been to the left of the steps:
Up the steps is a former two room powder store. One which is open:
And empty:
And one which is intriguingly, still locked up:
On the quarry side of the road are a couple more buildings. This is a really photogenic ex-quarry man’s shack:
And just along from it is a now-collapsed powder store:
So, on up to the quarry. This looks like some way of getting the stone down to the road:
And the quarry floor itself:
Part of the hulking concrete hopper system:
Up a level to the right:
And up to the left:
Only a very brief bit on this place. Limestone has been quarried in the High Peak area of Stoney Middleton for centuries and been a major industry and employer during the last century. The limestone here formed over 310 million years ago, during the Carboniferous period. Thousands of tons of rock have been quarried to produce minerals, metals and for the building industry in general. Originally known as Furness quarry, extensive excavation for aggregates was operated by the minerals company, Tarmac, to provided limestone for roads, steel, and cement.
After it closed in 1969, the quarry attracted climbers due to the vertical limestone walls but the quarry owner, concerned about its public liability, banned climbing, although the ban was ‘nominal’ as it wasn't strictly enforced. Eventually the quarry was purchased by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) who operate an 'open access' policy under the terms of the CROW Act. Many parts of the rock face have been 'bolted', allowing climbers to protect themselves from falls by clipping ropes into the eyebolts.
2. The Explore
Previously did a report on three quarries the other side of the road - one of which, Dalton, is currently being used as a location shoot for the next Mission Impossible movie (Tom Cruise in Stoney’s local chippie? Stranger things have happened!)
Anyhow, not too much to say here. Horseshoe is a rather nice, open access abandoned quarry. Chances are, if you have a wander round here, you’ll not be alone given this is something of a climbing hot spot. It’s a nice quarry that has multiple levels and some nice vistas and makes a pleasant way to wile away an hour or so. There are also some interesting old ex-mining shacks at the bottom by the car park which are quite photogenic too.
3. The Photographs
Opposite from the car park are the remains of a former lead mine. The entrance appears to have been to the left of the steps:
Up the steps is a former two room powder store. One which is open:
And empty:
And one which is intriguingly, still locked up:
On the quarry side of the road are a couple more buildings. This is a really photogenic ex-quarry man’s shack:
And just along from it is a now-collapsed powder store:
So, on up to the quarry. This looks like some way of getting the stone down to the road:
And the quarry floor itself:
Part of the hulking concrete hopper system:
Up a level to the right:
And up to the left:
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Yeah it's very popular indeed with climbers. Nice place for a mooch about too it seems. Bet it's heaving there today
