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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 and 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 work, 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 that were there when it was in use as a quarry are now 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 rim of the quarry. Having chatted to the security guy, typical of our luck, the quarry was being used as a filming location! However, not to be beaten, we headed 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.
3. The Pictures
img7998 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8002 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8004 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8007 by HughieDW, on Flickr
One of a few fossils we spotted in the limestone rocks:
img8009 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8014 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Looking down the quarry eastwards. In the distance you can see the tented village for the filming:
img8015 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8019 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8020 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8021 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8022 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8023 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8024 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8027 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The norther face of Eldon Hill Quarry. These terraces look almost like they were cut as roadways for lorries:
img8028 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8031 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8033 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8035 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img8036 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Eldon Hill 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Eldon Hill 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Eldon Hill 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Eldon Hill 05 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Eldon Hill 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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 and 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 work, 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 that were there when it was in use as a quarry are now 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 rim of the quarry. Having chatted to the security guy, typical of our luck, the quarry was being used as a filming location! However, not to be beaten, we headed 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.
3. The Pictures
img7998 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8002 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8004 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8007 by HughieDW, on FlickrOne of a few fossils we spotted in the limestone rocks:
img8009 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8014 by HughieDW, on FlickrLooking down the quarry eastwards. In the distance you can see the tented village for the filming:
img8015 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8019 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8020 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8021 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8022 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8023 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8024 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8027 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe norther face of Eldon Hill Quarry. These terraces look almost like they were cut as roadways for lorries:
img8028 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8031 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8033 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8035 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg8036 by HughieDW, on FlickrEldon Hill 01 by HughieDW, on FlickrEldon Hill 02 by HughieDW, on FlickrEldon Hill 04 by HughieDW, on FlickrEldon Hill 05 by HughieDW, on FlickrEldon Hill 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr
