Onto the next location of the big road trip, still in the West Country, we head for an old cement works and quarry.
Coles Quarry shut down in 2005 after 138 years of business. At the time of the 1867 opening, it was named after its founders; Joesph Coles & Son Ltd. 101 years later RMC (Ready Mix Concrete) acquired the business and ran it till 2005 when the site appeared to be run by Cemex after the take over but didn’t last long.
Quarrying was confined to the excavation to the south-east of the processing plant until the early 1970s; which is now known as the Lower Quarry. During the 70s, a new extraction area opened up on the limestone plateau to the east part of the Lower Quarry.
This excavation area has its views to the north blocked by the wooded slopes of Cheston Combe, and is accessed from the Lower Quarry via a pretty narrow cutting.
The site has inherent environment problems that include poor access, close proximity to private residences and visual intrusion. Consequently, the Mineral Planning Authority (now The North Somerset Council) was concerned that production should be moved to Freemans Quarry as soon as possible
The old packing buildings were understandably dusty and dry inside but a good half hours mooch about.
It also appears something has been filmed here; due to the presence of prosthetic rocks in the quarry.
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More at:
Coles Quarry - a set on Flickr
Coles Quarry shut down in 2005 after 138 years of business. At the time of the 1867 opening, it was named after its founders; Joesph Coles & Son Ltd. 101 years later RMC (Ready Mix Concrete) acquired the business and ran it till 2005 when the site appeared to be run by Cemex after the take over but didn’t last long.
Quarrying was confined to the excavation to the south-east of the processing plant until the early 1970s; which is now known as the Lower Quarry. During the 70s, a new extraction area opened up on the limestone plateau to the east part of the Lower Quarry.
This excavation area has its views to the north blocked by the wooded slopes of Cheston Combe, and is accessed from the Lower Quarry via a pretty narrow cutting.
The site has inherent environment problems that include poor access, close proximity to private residences and visual intrusion. Consequently, the Mineral Planning Authority (now The North Somerset Council) was concerned that production should be moved to Freemans Quarry as soon as possible
The old packing buildings were understandably dusty and dry inside but a good half hours mooch about.
It also appears something has been filmed here; due to the presence of prosthetic rocks in the quarry.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
More at:
Coles Quarry - a set on Flickr
