History:
Bethel Quarry started it’s life in the hands of the Bath and Portland Stone Company but when quarrying finished it was put to a new use by the Agaric Mushroom company as a mushroom farm. With it’s constant temperature and dark conditions it is the perfect location for mushroom growth.
In 1939 the War Department requisitioned the quarry, carried out some strengthening work and used the quarry to store naval anti-aircraft parts, radio direction finding equipment and optical equipment during the Second World War.
After the war the quarry was handed back to the mushroom company, this was because the roof level was to low in places making it unsuitable for military use plus near-by Copenacre Quarry was big enough for the Royal Navy’s storage needs by this time.
The quarry was soon put back to use as a mushroom farm until it closed in September 2010.
Explore:
Visited with @richiemelon and a non member. Continuing our monthly visit to Wiltshire we decided to turn our attention to some of the smaller mines in the area and this was the first on my list. This is because of the challenges it presents getting in (or down!). This is the first mine I’ve seen that didn’t have galleries filled with dead’s so it feels a lot bigger than it actually is, it was fairly easy to navigate around without any need for maps or a compass. It was also the place of the uk’s biggest cannabis bust and you can see why. We counted 12 tents that are 2 grand a pop! We estimated the price in materials,tents,equipment would cost well over 50 grand to set up. That is some dedication and balls of steel
. It was a nice little explore all in all and another one to tick of the list. Photos of my iPhone as usual
Crane remains
Water tank
Not sure as to what these are so if anyone knows I’d like to know
The remains of the weed grow and other things
Bethel Quarry started it’s life in the hands of the Bath and Portland Stone Company but when quarrying finished it was put to a new use by the Agaric Mushroom company as a mushroom farm. With it’s constant temperature and dark conditions it is the perfect location for mushroom growth.
In 1939 the War Department requisitioned the quarry, carried out some strengthening work and used the quarry to store naval anti-aircraft parts, radio direction finding equipment and optical equipment during the Second World War.
After the war the quarry was handed back to the mushroom company, this was because the roof level was to low in places making it unsuitable for military use plus near-by Copenacre Quarry was big enough for the Royal Navy’s storage needs by this time.
The quarry was soon put back to use as a mushroom farm until it closed in September 2010.
Explore:
Visited with @richiemelon and a non member. Continuing our monthly visit to Wiltshire we decided to turn our attention to some of the smaller mines in the area and this was the first on my list. This is because of the challenges it presents getting in (or down!). This is the first mine I’ve seen that didn’t have galleries filled with dead’s so it feels a lot bigger than it actually is, it was fairly easy to navigate around without any need for maps or a compass. It was also the place of the uk’s biggest cannabis bust and you can see why. We counted 12 tents that are 2 grand a pop! We estimated the price in materials,tents,equipment would cost well over 50 grand to set up. That is some dedication and balls of steel
. It was a nice little explore all in all and another one to tick of the list. Photos of my iPhone as usualCrane remains
Water tank
Not sure as to what these are so if anyone knows I’d like to know
The remains of the weed grow and other things
Attachments
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