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As part of the Threshfield Quarry Project in which the UWHG is actively involved, many members of the group attended a public meeting in Grassington on February 1st 2008. The purpose of the evening was to raise awareness of the Project, which aims to focus attention upon the richness of the archaeological and historic heritage which is so integral to the landscape around Threshfield.
David Johnson, UWHG member and authority on the development of limestone industries in the Yorkshire Dales, outlined the history and development of Threshfield Quarry and its place in the industrial landscape of upper Wharfedale
The earliest references to a limestone industry in the area dates back to when Fountains Abbey owned large estates which extended into the heart of Upper Wharfedale. 15th and 16th century monastic records refer to lime kilns at Kilnsey and Threshfield. Since then, lime has been used for an extraordinary range of purposes and products – from a food additive in chocolate to land improvement, building and dyeing processes. Indeed David has recorded over 90 different uses for lime in the history of the industry in the Yorks hire Dales.
David briefly explained the development of the early field kilns in the Upper Wharfedale area (of which he has so far identified 19 in the Threshfield area), through to the mass production of lime with the industrial and agricultural revolutions of the 19th century.
It was the arrival of self-made businessman John Delaney which marked the beginning of Threshfield Quarry as we see it today. Having already established himself at the Horton and Broughton Quarries in the 1880s and 1890s, Delaney purchased the mining rights for coal as well as lime at Threshfield in 1902. Despite having to abandon the colliery in 1905, Delaney was able to expand the lime quarry over the next three decades, beyond the original Brown Hole and Dolomite quarry site, increasing the workforce from 29 I 1904 to about 80 by 1934.
After his death in 1921, the quarry continued under a succession of owners, including J.D. Ltd, Settle Lime Ltd, ICI Mond, Mountain Limestone Ltd, and finally, Tarmac.
David presented us with some fascinating historical photographs from this period of the Quarry’s history, and explained how the unusual kilns here operated. With its uncertain future in mind, he was keen to point out that several of the buildings we could see in these photographs are still standing, and he made a plea for at least some of them to be recorded and surveyed in detail, and hopefully preserved within the new developments.
The talk was followed up on February 6th with a guided tour of the Quarry, given by David and Roger for members of the UWHG and interested guests from the evening lecture.
The UWHG now plan to carry out a recording survey of the buildings in the site as part of their 2008 Threshfield Quarry Project.
As the now abandoned Quarry’s future is being discussed by the development agencies, local government and other official bodies, we hope that the interest shown by the audience at the Grassington evening will reflect a wider public interest in the project, and help to encourage public debate about the historic landscape of Threshfield Quarry and its environs.
For further information, UWHG members are advised to read the much sought-after book:
David Johnson’s book “Limestone industries of the Yorkshire Dales” (2002)
For those interested in the early field kilns, the following are available from the UWHG Library:
- David Johnson – “The sow kiln project; excavation of clampkilns in the Yorkshire Dales” (Ingleborough Archaeology Group, 2006)
- David Johnson – “Report on the excavation of a 17th century lime kiln at Town’s Piece, Kilnsey, North Yorkshire” (2007)
Also see websites :
Jane Lunnon (UWHG archivist)
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