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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
Halldale quarry is a former limestone quarry situated south-west of Matlock off Snitterton Lane. It was an important hard limestone abstraction source that served the construction industry throughout the Dales, South Yorkshire and Midlands providing both block stone and aggregate. Formed from a relatively level base section cut into a hillside, topographically, so that the Quarry forms a bowl of land, operations at the quarry creased around 25 years ago. The quarry is vast and contains a helicopter landing pad at its centre. The rock strata forms a series of three platforms and the quarry is well known to climbers, although Tarmac (the current landowner) does not officially permit climbing on the site. A variety of fossils can be found at the quarry including of Brachiopods, Crinoid stems and large Corals along with examples of marine Gastropods. Hence the quarry is equally popular with fossil-hunters.
In November 2014 plans that outlined the development of the quarry into a brownfield site were tabled. 4M Property Partners submitted plans to convert the quarry into mixed residential and commercial properties including 220 houses and to a restaurant and café. In addition, the planning proposal contained details of some 6,400m2 of office space.
2. The Explore
Bit of an unplanned explore this. Was returning from exploring elsewhere and in order to avoid the traffic jams of Matlock Bath and Cromford, decided to take the back roads around them. While skirting round to Matlock saw some bright yellow security boards in the woods to my left. So parked up and walked back to find a series of very overgrown buildings that were associated with the operation of the quarry. While they were nothing spectacular they were still worth a look. I then climbed up the path to be greeted by the quarry in its full glory. All-in-all nothing earth shattering (well, I guess the quarry was when it was in operation) but a nice little surprise wander.
3. The Pictures
img1521 by HughieDW, on Flickr
General admin building:
Matlock Quarry 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1530 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1531 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1533 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Matlock Quarry 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Obligatory old fridge shot:
img1532 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Stalactites!
img1529 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The toilet block:
img1528 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Stand up (supergloss is not a word that comes to mind with this picture!):
img1527 by HughieDW, on Flickr
or sit down:
img1526 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A couple of other buildings a bit back up the road:
Matlock Quarry 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1543 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1544 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Definitely stuck to their blue and white colour scheme:
img1548 by HughieDW, on Flickr
These steps look interesting:
img1535 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Wow! Some view:
img1536 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1537 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Fossil-hunter's heaven:
img1538 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1539 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1541 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img1542 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Matlock Quarry 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Halldale quarry is a former limestone quarry situated south-west of Matlock off Snitterton Lane. It was an important hard limestone abstraction source that served the construction industry throughout the Dales, South Yorkshire and Midlands providing both block stone and aggregate. Formed from a relatively level base section cut into a hillside, topographically, so that the Quarry forms a bowl of land, operations at the quarry creased around 25 years ago. The quarry is vast and contains a helicopter landing pad at its centre. The rock strata forms a series of three platforms and the quarry is well known to climbers, although Tarmac (the current landowner) does not officially permit climbing on the site. A variety of fossils can be found at the quarry including of Brachiopods, Crinoid stems and large Corals along with examples of marine Gastropods. Hence the quarry is equally popular with fossil-hunters.
In November 2014 plans that outlined the development of the quarry into a brownfield site were tabled. 4M Property Partners submitted plans to convert the quarry into mixed residential and commercial properties including 220 houses and to a restaurant and café. In addition, the planning proposal contained details of some 6,400m2 of office space.
2. The Explore
Bit of an unplanned explore this. Was returning from exploring elsewhere and in order to avoid the traffic jams of Matlock Bath and Cromford, decided to take the back roads around them. While skirting round to Matlock saw some bright yellow security boards in the woods to my left. So parked up and walked back to find a series of very overgrown buildings that were associated with the operation of the quarry. While they were nothing spectacular they were still worth a look. I then climbed up the path to be greeted by the quarry in its full glory. All-in-all nothing earth shattering (well, I guess the quarry was when it was in operation) but a nice little surprise wander.
3. The Pictures
img1521 by HughieDW, on FlickrGeneral admin building:
Matlock Quarry 04 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1530 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1531 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1533 by HughieDW, on FlickrMatlock Quarry 01 by HughieDW, on FlickrObligatory old fridge shot:
img1532 by HughieDW, on FlickrStalactites!
img1529 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe toilet block:
img1528 by HughieDW, on FlickrStand up (supergloss is not a word that comes to mind with this picture!):
img1527 by HughieDW, on Flickror sit down:
img1526 by HughieDW, on FlickrA couple of other buildings a bit back up the road:
Matlock Quarry 07 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1543 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1544 by HughieDW, on FlickrDefinitely stuck to their blue and white colour scheme:
img1548 by HughieDW, on FlickrThese steps look interesting:
img1535 by HughieDW, on FlickrWow! Some view:
img1536 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1537 by HughieDW, on FlickrFossil-hunter's heaven:
img1538 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1539 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1541 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg1542 by HughieDW, on FlickrMatlock Quarry 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr
