sqwasher
04-04-2009, 06:05 PM
Due to the Solvay process of manufacturing Soda Ash Limestone Quarries were in demand and in 1891 thirteen quarries within the Buxton Derbyshire area amalgamated in order to benefit from the demand and value. Buxton Lime Firms Co Ltd, as they were called, grew and by 1895 they were mining 360,000 tons of Limestone (calcium carbonate) and producing 280,000 tons of Lime from their 1522 acres of land, 3 Collieries, 89 lime kilns and 21 large stone crushers. They continued to flourish and bought and established nine more quarries in the following 20 years.
By 1918 John Brunner, who along with Ludwig Mond had founded the Solvay Process, was so dependent on the BLF limestone he bought into the company and by 1926 had full ownership. With the merger of all of the businesses I.C.I. was formed.
This quarry must have been one of the smaller ones that was either used just for the stone or closed when the larger quarry at Tunstead increased in size. Exploring the place was interesting, involved a fair bit of climbing and made a great photo opportunity.
Various buildings on the site before the lime kilns themselves:
The first building at the entrance to the site & nearest the main road
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3382243001_86b97828e7.jpg
This next building looked like some sort of canteen/workers room complete with a chimney on the roof!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/3383895501_d49435b81f.jpg
The third & largest building, some sort of engineering/machine building by the look of some mountings.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3403989286_7db5b593f4.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3385919884_37ffa854e8.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3403183737_6872b85e25.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3382255613_c5e5d04008.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/3382253443_72fdf103d1.jpg
Then onto the kilns themselves with large buttresses to the north supporting the kilns.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3383896617_053705fafe.jpg
Train track would have run under the 'arch' for loading from the platform.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3385893244_37096433fa.jpg
The platform is just on the left
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3403186235_7b9aa2c41f.jpg
Looking off the platform with a small person added for scale :D
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3385904600_dc33dc875f.jpg
Under each of the kilns were four containers in an archway
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3385085049_f49f0c3832.jpg
Looking outwards from inside one of the arches
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3385894980_1484f6937c.jpg
On top of the kilns the circular track around the top could still just be seen
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3385103861_242e264a92.jpg
Further into the site were some older more derelict structures
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3393242409_f14203c2cd.jpg
Inside the large hopper
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/3393246643_390cd78e94.jpg
Under the hopper were pulley wheels
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3394045054_b9e5dc62a0.jpg
Through a covered passageway were stairs to the highest part of the structures & our exit today.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3394059542_0a6507c2e0.jpg
Cheers for looking & flickr has more of our pics from this site.
By 1918 John Brunner, who along with Ludwig Mond had founded the Solvay Process, was so dependent on the BLF limestone he bought into the company and by 1926 had full ownership. With the merger of all of the businesses I.C.I. was formed.
This quarry must have been one of the smaller ones that was either used just for the stone or closed when the larger quarry at Tunstead increased in size. Exploring the place was interesting, involved a fair bit of climbing and made a great photo opportunity.
Various buildings on the site before the lime kilns themselves:
The first building at the entrance to the site & nearest the main road
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3382243001_86b97828e7.jpg
This next building looked like some sort of canteen/workers room complete with a chimney on the roof!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/3383895501_d49435b81f.jpg
The third & largest building, some sort of engineering/machine building by the look of some mountings.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3403989286_7db5b593f4.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3385919884_37ffa854e8.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3403183737_6872b85e25.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3382255613_c5e5d04008.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/3382253443_72fdf103d1.jpg
Then onto the kilns themselves with large buttresses to the north supporting the kilns.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3540/3383896617_053705fafe.jpg
Train track would have run under the 'arch' for loading from the platform.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3385893244_37096433fa.jpg
The platform is just on the left
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3560/3403186235_7b9aa2c41f.jpg
Looking off the platform with a small person added for scale :D
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3385904600_dc33dc875f.jpg
Under each of the kilns were four containers in an archway
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3385085049_f49f0c3832.jpg
Looking outwards from inside one of the arches
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3444/3385894980_1484f6937c.jpg
On top of the kilns the circular track around the top could still just be seen
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3455/3385103861_242e264a92.jpg
Further into the site were some older more derelict structures
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3393242409_f14203c2cd.jpg
Inside the large hopper
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3460/3393246643_390cd78e94.jpg
Under the hopper were pulley wheels
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/3394045054_b9e5dc62a0.jpg
Through a covered passageway were stairs to the highest part of the structures & our exit today.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3394059542_0a6507c2e0.jpg
Cheers for looking & flickr has more of our pics from this site.