Originally an average size Bath stone quarry with links Monks Park Quarry, there is a geological fault running through the quarry meaning the limestone varies in depth by about 20 feet, as the quarry men have followed the stone it as resulted in one half of the quarry being 20 foot lower the other. The is an internal slope shaft taking you from the top to lower level.Ridge was quarried ...
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Originally an average size Bath stone quarry with links Monks Park Quarry, there is a geological fault running through the quarry meaning the limestone varies in depth by about 20 feet, as the quarry men have followed the stone it as resulted in one half of the quarry being 20 foot lower the other. The is an internal slope shaft taking you from the top to lower level.
Ridge was quarried up until 1914 when at the start of the First World War, Ridge was requisitioned by the War Department. They cleared out the waste stone and stacked it up in older parts of the workings and strengthened the roof so that ammunition could be stored in the mine.During the build up to WW2 the War Department decided that there was a need for a large underground ammunitions store. It was decided that the required space could be obtained by converting four quarries, these four formed what was collectively known as the Central Ammunitions Depot Corsham. Ridge Quarry was acquired and put to use as one of these sub-depots. The three other sub-depots were Tunnel Quarry at Corsham, Eastlays Quarry at Gastard and Monkton Farleigh Mine.
Ridge Quarry was never converted to the same extent as the rest of the Central Ammunitions Depot Corsham so it became surplus soon after the war had finished. There is however evidence of Monkton-style corseting and strengthening work in the quarry but at an incomplete stage as the budget was never approved.
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bonecollector
3rd October 2010 15:58Replies
Stuee in reply to bonecollector
10th October 2010 06:59Been into this hobby for many years now doing my first explore at 16 at Chiseldon army camp way back in 1974 so I guess it makes me a bit of an old codger!Just getting into the Corsham underground thing so trying to get my head round the vastness of the various quarrys.
Thanks for letting me join Nettleden,hope to meet up with some of one day,
Stu
carlyboy in reply to bonecollector
27th March 2011 09:57kms910
3rd August 2009 19:43