Emborough Quarries
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Emborough Quarries is located in Somerset
Emborough Quarries
Location within Somerset
LocationSomerset
Grid referenceST623505
Coordinates51°15′09″N 2°32′30″W / 51.2524°N 2.5416°W / 51.2524; -2.5416
InterestGeological
Area1 hectare (0.010 km2; 0.0039 sq mi)
Notification1971 (1971)
Natural England website

Emborough Quarries (grid reference ST623505) is a 1 hectare (2.5 acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest at Emborough in the Mendip Hills, Somerset, notified in 1971.

The disused quarry has yielded a wide variety of remains of vertebrate fossils, amongst which the early reptiles are particularly well represented. Of special note is Kuehneosaurus latus which is one of the earliest-known flying vertebrates.[1][2] During the Triassic period of geological time, some 230 million years ago, the limestones now exposed on Mendip formed upland areas upon which a number of large rivers rose. Solution cavities were soon created in the land surface and material from the surrounding area was swept into the newly formed cave systems. Remains of the creatures living in the upland areas during this time were swept into these deposits and have now been exhumed by recent quarrying activities. Fresh material is brought to the surface with every rock fall and Emborough Quarries are a nationally important source of fossil vertebrate remains for research and study.[3]

This former Mendip quarry site, probably owned by Emborough Stone Co., a branch of Roads Reconstruction, Ltd., where iron ore was once mined[4] is now home to an assembly of contractor's plant (possibly of Richard Wood (Engineering) Ltd), cranes and machine tools. It is the location of Nettlebridge Viaduct, a seven-arch bridge that once carried the Somerset and Dorset Railway.[5]

The site was owned by Emborough Stone Co which was later bought by Roads Reconstruction Ltd. The rock quarried was carboniferous mountain limestone which was used for construction and railway ballast. There are 2 main quarries and several trial quarries. The site was previously used by the Emborough Brick Co for making clay bricks.

Blatchford Light Railway

The Blatchford Light Railway narrow-gauge railway is located within the quarry. This 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge railway was originally intended to serve a pre-cast concrete plant in the quarry, but after that enterprise failed, it was retained as a private railway. The line starts at an industrial building in the No. 1 quarry, passes under Nettlebridge Viaduct and loops round the lake in No. 2 quarry.[5] The following industrial locomotives were present in 2011:[6]

Name/ Number Gauge Builder Type Date Works number Notes
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Yorkshire Engine Company 0-6-0DE 1957 2641
Yard No. 24 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hunslet Engine Company 0-4-0DM 1939 2017
Yard No. B6 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hunslet Engine Company 0-4-0DM 1940 2266
ND 3060 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hunslet Engine Company 0-4-0DM 1941 2398
Yard No. 1075 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hunslet Engine Company 4wDH 1976 7447
Yard No. 1073 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hunslet Engine Company 4wDH 1976 7450
Yard No. 1074 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hunslet Engine Company 4wDH 1976 7451
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Hunslet Engine Company 4wDH 1981 9057 Rack locomotive
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Ruston & Hornsby 4wDM 1956 398101
L4134 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Wickham 2w-2PM 1942 3174
750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) GIA Industria AB 4wDH 1966 55134
Corris 2 ft 4 in (711 mm) Ruston Hornsby 4wDM 1956 398102 Purchased from Gloddfa Ganol.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kuehneosaurus". Texas Natural Science Centre. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2006.
  2. ^ "Emborough Quarry, Somerset". Geological Conservation Review. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Emborough Quarries" (PDF). English Nature. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2006. Retrieved 11 July 2006.
  4. ^ Gough, J.W. (1967). The mines of Mendip. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. https://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B0000CNKWB.
  5. ^ a b "Fraternity Visit to Midsomer Norton and Emborough" (PDF). Wells Railway Fraternity. July 2009. p. 6.
  6. ^ Industrial Locomotives: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Vol. 16EL. Melton Mowbray: Industrial Railway Society. 2012. ISBN 978 1 901556 78 0.
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