Brief History
Middleton mine spans around 26 miles of tunnels across 3 working levels. From the 18th Century until the end of World War 2, Middleton Quarry produced high quality limestone capable of taking surface polish, for use in monuments and other ornamental products. After declining demand for such products the quarry began to switch its production to powders, grits and filters for use in the steel, glass, asphalt and sugar refining industries. Stone was extracted by underground blasting and passed through a primary crusher before being transported to the surface by dump trucks for further processing.
In the 1980s at the side of the hill below Ryder Point Works Part of the tunnel collapsed leaving a noticeable depression in the ground above on the eastern side of Middleton Moor.
Explore
Had this place on the radar from quite sometime so when the opportunity came i managed to get myself down there, visited here numerous times over a few weeks and managed see the bits we wanted to such as the jig, blue door, all three entrances and the conveyors which did not disappoint.
The jig is still owned by PDMHS and there was plans to rescue it but with ownership of the quarry changing this never happend, We managed to explore the old lead mines hidden here which were a treat and some in quite impressive condition considering the age of them.
The final visit we decided to make the most of and spent around 7 hours here, the plan was to dump a dingy by the flooded levels then have a paddle on the way out but by this time the thought of inflating a dingy with a hand pump sailing and then packing away couldnt sound worse so we passed on that.
By this point it seemed the word truly got out as there were groups with a boombox, toddlers and dogs running round the place felt more like a day out into pooles cavern more than anything, The place is now sealed. (did try and warn someone with there dog off the lead about the 20+m shafts dotted about but got ignored)
Explored with @MotionlessMike and some caving buddies
part of the major collapse.
one of the flooded levels we was planning on having a paddle in
Heard that this car used to get driven around the place
a rogue conveyor belt
PDMHS jig
Hopton side entrance
Had a shock when i sat down on this ledge for a drink and looked over to see a row of around 10 teddy bears
Middleton side quarry entrance
calcified tube ft shadow man ft an impailed teddy on spike
Middleton mine spans around 26 miles of tunnels across 3 working levels. From the 18th Century until the end of World War 2, Middleton Quarry produced high quality limestone capable of taking surface polish, for use in monuments and other ornamental products. After declining demand for such products the quarry began to switch its production to powders, grits and filters for use in the steel, glass, asphalt and sugar refining industries. Stone was extracted by underground blasting and passed through a primary crusher before being transported to the surface by dump trucks for further processing.
In the 1980s at the side of the hill below Ryder Point Works Part of the tunnel collapsed leaving a noticeable depression in the ground above on the eastern side of Middleton Moor.
Explore
Had this place on the radar from quite sometime so when the opportunity came i managed to get myself down there, visited here numerous times over a few weeks and managed see the bits we wanted to such as the jig, blue door, all three entrances and the conveyors which did not disappoint.
The jig is still owned by PDMHS and there was plans to rescue it but with ownership of the quarry changing this never happend, We managed to explore the old lead mines hidden here which were a treat and some in quite impressive condition considering the age of them.
The final visit we decided to make the most of and spent around 7 hours here, the plan was to dump a dingy by the flooded levels then have a paddle on the way out but by this time the thought of inflating a dingy with a hand pump sailing and then packing away couldnt sound worse so we passed on that.
By this point it seemed the word truly got out as there were groups with a boombox, toddlers and dogs running round the place felt more like a day out into pooles cavern more than anything, The place is now sealed. (did try and warn someone with there dog off the lead about the 20+m shafts dotted about but got ignored)
Explored with @MotionlessMike and some caving buddies
part of the major collapse.
one of the flooded levels we was planning on having a paddle in
Heard that this car used to get driven around the place
a rogue conveyor belt
PDMHS jig
Hopton side entrance
Had a shock when i sat down on this ledge for a drink and looked over to see a row of around 10 teddy bears
Middleton side quarry entrance
calcified tube ft shadow man ft an impailed teddy on spike
