History
“Middleton mine spans around 26 miles of tunnels across 3 working levels. From the 18th Century until the end of World War 2, Middleton Quarry produced high quality limestone capable of taking surface polish, for use in monuments and other ornamental products. After declining demand for such products the quarry began to switch its production to powders, grits and filters for use in the steel, glass, asphalt and sugar refining industries. Stone was extracted by underground blasting and passed through a primary crusher before being transported to the surface by dump trucks for further processing. In the 1980s at the side of the hill below Ryder Point Works Part of the tunnel collapsed leaving a noticeable depression in the ground above on the eastern side of Middleton Moor.”
