The Earthcache site is reached by walking up a well-made footpath which is quite steep in places. This path is fine for children, but may be a little difficult for pushchairs.
Whilst you are here take a look at the nearby Toft Gate Lime Kiln.
Coldstones Quarry
Coldstones Quarry, situated on Greenhow Hill at 1400 feet above sea level, is one of the highest quarries in Britain. Several small limestone quarries operated around Greenhow over the last two centuries and in the early 1900s the surrounding hills were dominated by stone quarries. Gradually these closed until Coldstones became the last working quarry in the area. It provides aggregates and asphalt for major construction projects across the U.K. The quarry currently covers an area of about 30 hectares. It is worked on 6 benches, 15-18m high, to a depth of 300m O.D. at the base of the quarry. Coldstones provides an average of 700,000 tons of aggregate each year, and supplies building materials into West and North Yorkshire. From the Coldstones Cut you can see the quarrying operations, including the blasting, extraction and crushing of rock. You can also see the geological strata which make up the quarry and which provide the raw material for its products. The quarry has an estimated life of 15-20 years, and after that time it is anticipated that it will be allowed to green over and return to nature. Coldstones Quarry has achieved both a 5 Star Environmental Award from the Quarry Products Association and the Harrogate Borough Council Special Award for Environmental Excellence, in recognition of educational work with local schools and its active support of the local heritage.
The Sculpture
The Coldstones Cut is a piece of public art on a monumental scale. Created by the artist Andrew Sabin as a sculptural response to the Coldstones Quarry at Pateley Bridge, the sculpture functions as an array of platforms from which visitors can view both the spectacular quarry hole and limestone quarrying operation, and the landscape of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Beauty and beyond. The sculpture also functions as an interpretive medium for the surrounding landscape, its heritage and its relationship with the quarry.
The Coldstones Cut combines the curious conventions of a contemporary streetscape with the brutal impressiveness of ancient stone block constructions. Perched at a height of 1375 feet above sea level, it can be freely explored by visitors who can walk the street and the various winding paths within and experience the extraordinary vistas which the platforms expose.
Only a visit to the Coldstones Cut can demonstrate the scale and splendor of The Coldstones Quarry and its location. To get a foretaste of the Coldstones Cut experience you can view our gallery of images showing the construction of the sculpture and some of its outstanding features.
This Earthcache at Coldstones Cut has been placed with the kind permission of Hanson’s Quarry.
For more information about Coldstones Cut and Quarry please visit:
http://thecoldstonescut.org/
We require the answers to the following questions in order for you to log this Earthcache.
Please don’t post the answers on this web page, send us an email through the link on our profile.
1. How many million years ago did huge river deltas wash sand and mud off the nearby land forming sandstone and shales?
2. Fluorspar is also known as…..?
3. What type of stone from Crossland Hill Quarry has been used to make the bench seat with the inscription, situated in the quarry viewing area, and how old is it?
4. When standing at the quarry viewing area, look across to the water tower behind the quarry, how many working layers are there from the top of the quarry to the water pool in the bottom?
5. Estimate the approximate depth of these working layers?
6. Describe the colours that you can see in these working layers?
It would be rather nice to have a photo taken with yourself and GPS at this site