Cliff Ridge Quarry [7 photos] in NZ5711 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

Shared description

Cliff Ridge Quarry

The Cleveland Dyke is a protrusion of very hard volcanic rock cutting through the surrounding sedimentary rocks. It was formed 58 million years ago from a volcano near the Isle of Mull and can be traced between there and Whitby. Wherever it outcrops it was quarried and used principally for road building. Its common name is Whinstone on account the gorse or whin frequently found growing where the rock outcrops.

Local quarrying was firmly established by the late 17th century. Cliff Ridge quarry was operated by Messrs. Winn with the whinstone being cut into setts or cobbles for the streets of Leeds. The quarry closed around 1918 but in the seventies further extraction took place with the stone being crushed for road surfacing.

Nowadays the lower slopes of the quarry has been extensively sculptured by the local BMX enthusiasts.

by Mick Garratt

Created: Sun, 10 Jan 2010, Updated: Sat, 17 Jan 2015

7 images use this description:

NZ5711 : Cliff Ridge Quarry by Mick Garratt

NZ5611 : Cliff Ridge Quarry by Mick Garratt

NZ5711 : Cliff Ridge Whinstone Quarry by Mick Garratt

NZ5711 : Cliff Ridge Wood by Mick Garratt

NZ5711 : Former Whinstone Quarry by Mick Garratt

NZ5711 : Cliff Rigg Quarry by Mick Garratt

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