I have been looking through the forums and noticed that no-one has ever reported on the Middleton Quarry just outside of Edinburgh. I visited the quarry (with owners permission) a few years ago, I doubt much has changed as it is not a working quarry and I thought I would share the photos I took whilst I was there.
A bit of background first...
N. Middleton Quarry (NT 354 579)
North Middleton Quarry is located south of Edinburgh, near Gorebridge and until recently was the last limestone quarry working the North Greens (No.2) Limestone which lies at the base of the Carboniferous Lower Limestone Group. Although the seams of the N. Greens Limestone are approx. 15m thick, the top 9m is not worked due to alternating layers of limestone and shale partings. The lower beds, which have a cream or pale grey appearance have been worked extensively and mined in the past.
The quarry floor in the bottom quarry dips at 15 - 20º to the West, where 3 mine entrances are located. The quarry is cut in 2 by a roadway which separates the top and bottom quarries, the last time the quarries were worked for stone was around 15yrs for the bottom quarry and 10yrs for the top, although one of the quarries is still used for processing material from another region.
The most interesting aspect of Middleton Quarry is the “pillar & stall†extraction method, which involves mining around pillars of rock which are left to support the roof. This is most evident in the top quarry which lies higher than the lower quarry which has considerable flooding due to run off from fields etc. This type of mine can be quite dangerous as the existing rock is the only support for the roof which makes these mines unpredictable and prone to collapse. I never ventured into the mines therefore all photos are taken from the outside looking in.
There is also remnants of a surviving Lime Kiln which would have been used to process materials from the mines.
Ok, let the photos commence!
A Blasted Blasting Sign
View of Bottom Quarry
Tunnel Entrance
Good 9m worth of rock held up by thin air!
Pillar in flooded mine
Entry to pump room for flooded mines
Ceiling disappearing into the flooded mine
Collapsed roof in Upper Quarry
Collapsed roof in Upper Quarry
Tunnels disappearing into hillside
View of Upper Quarry
Old Lime Kiln
Lime Kiln opening where the lime would have been collected after burning
Lime Kiln left hand opening
Lime Kiln right hand opening with assorted junk
Hope you enjoyed my photos. Remember quarries are dangerous places, more so when they are unmanned so don't go getting yourself squashed in an abandoned mine somewhere!
A bit of background first...
N. Middleton Quarry (NT 354 579)
North Middleton Quarry is located south of Edinburgh, near Gorebridge and until recently was the last limestone quarry working the North Greens (No.2) Limestone which lies at the base of the Carboniferous Lower Limestone Group. Although the seams of the N. Greens Limestone are approx. 15m thick, the top 9m is not worked due to alternating layers of limestone and shale partings. The lower beds, which have a cream or pale grey appearance have been worked extensively and mined in the past.
The quarry floor in the bottom quarry dips at 15 - 20º to the West, where 3 mine entrances are located. The quarry is cut in 2 by a roadway which separates the top and bottom quarries, the last time the quarries were worked for stone was around 15yrs for the bottom quarry and 10yrs for the top, although one of the quarries is still used for processing material from another region.
The most interesting aspect of Middleton Quarry is the “pillar & stall†extraction method, which involves mining around pillars of rock which are left to support the roof. This is most evident in the top quarry which lies higher than the lower quarry which has considerable flooding due to run off from fields etc. This type of mine can be quite dangerous as the existing rock is the only support for the roof which makes these mines unpredictable and prone to collapse. I never ventured into the mines therefore all photos are taken from the outside looking in.
There is also remnants of a surviving Lime Kiln which would have been used to process materials from the mines.
Ok, let the photos commence!
A Blasted Blasting Sign
View of Bottom Quarry
Tunnel Entrance
Good 9m worth of rock held up by thin air!
Pillar in flooded mine
Entry to pump room for flooded mines
Ceiling disappearing into the flooded mine
Collapsed roof in Upper Quarry
Collapsed roof in Upper Quarry
Tunnels disappearing into hillside
View of Upper Quarry
Old Lime Kiln
Lime Kiln opening where the lime would have been collected after burning
Lime Kiln left hand opening
Lime Kiln right hand opening with assorted junk
Hope you enjoyed my photos. Remember quarries are dangerous places, more so when they are unmanned so don't go getting yourself squashed in an abandoned mine somewhere!
I can"t wait for post number 2 in 2018 
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