Life on the edge
The winding wheel
ELIN PRICE delves into the life and work of the Cracken Edge Quarry
D
uring 2019 I was a placement MA Landscape Archaeology student (University of Shefield) with the Peak District National Park Authority. In this role, I conducted a walkover survey of Cracken Edge Quarry, Chinley. Cracken Edge lies to the west of the National Park in the High Peak district. It forms the crest of the hill known as Chinley Churn, named from its shape, on the western side of the valley which runs between the villages of Hayfield and Chinley. Local shareholders owned the so-called ‘Slate Breaks’, which had existed since at least the 17th century. By 1800, Cracken was a substantial enterprise employing many local men. The quarry was formed to follow a strike of ‘Rough Rock Flags’ - millstone grit that splits beautifully into thin pieces perfect for flags and roof slates. Besides surface extraction, better stone at a greater depth was extracted by underground mining. Unfortunately, as concrete became cheap and accessible, the market for quarried slate reduced, and the quarry closed in the 1920s. My survey recorded the location, type, measurements and condition of features and a desk-based assessment
Men at work in the quarry
examined the relevant topographic and historic material. The site is peculiarly blessed with a significant amount of documentary evidence, including land deeds, photographs and personal accounts. This archive has greatly added to the significance and understanding of the site. The survey identified 59 features. Instantly recognisable is the continuous quarry face. This stretches over half a mile (1km) and in places reaches 32 feet (10m) in height. The stone has been worked by an expert technique of wedging and hammering at the top of the face to prise the rock away. Anecdotal evidence, and a possible shot hole, indicates that gunpowder was also used. In front of the quarry face is the flattish main working area which is covered with huge piles of spoil. The spoil heaps are cut by routeways and two long paths which lead to the track heading downhill. Stone was taken by this route from the quarry in horse-drawn carts. Eleven small rectilinear drystone structures were found widely distributed across the site. They were quarrymen’s huts, fashioned from spoil to provide shelter and storage. It was particularly exciting to find remaining machinery. This comprised a windingwheel and a crane at the northern end of the site. The winding-wheel and corresponding rail track were built in 1901 to improve the transport of stone to the bottom of the valley. However, it was soon decommissioned because the trolleys often jumped the tracks. Two long wooden components remain of the crane and a metal piece which resembles a hinge. It dates from the 19th and early 20th century, and was used for lifting and swinging stones into new positions. Aided by a 1960s mine survey, I found 10 mine entrances or adits. Most are small and rudimentary although one is notably large and has rope wear to the upper lip, suggesting stone was hauled from within. From historic photographs and mine surveys the most significant adit was just behind the winding wheel. It was a large, square, supported entrance and led to a tunnel with rail tracks. It has been entirely blocked and there is no sign of it now. The features recorded during the survey highlight the intensity of the working at Cracken Edge Quarry. While no stone has been extracted here for 100 years, the site provides a glimpse into the life and workings of this Derbyshire quarry. Thanks to the PDNPA, Derek Brumhead, Mr Needham and Mabel Bamford.
Entrance to one of the mine adits
2022 | ACID
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