Cawdor Quarry facts for kids

Cawdor Quarry is an old, unused stone quarry located in Matlock, Derbyshire, England. A large part of the quarry is a special protected area called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's important for its wildlife or geology.

Inside the SSSI, you can still see some old, broken-down machinery and buildings from when the quarry was active. There are also three lakes called Cawdor Ponds. These lakes were formed after the quarrying stopped. Today, the Matlock Angling Club owns them, and they are a popular place for local people to swim.

The Peak District area, where Cawdor Quarry is, is famous for its quarries. Stone from Cawdor Quarry was used in important building projects in London, like Hyde Park Corner and the Thames Embankment.

What is Cawdor Quarry?

Cawdor Quarry is a large area where rocks and stone were once dug out of the ground. It's in the town of Matlock, which is in the county of Derbyshire. Quarries like this are important because they provide materials for building roads, houses, and other structures.

A Special Place for Nature

Even though it's an old industrial site, a big part of Cawdor Quarry is now a protected area. This protection means that the natural environment, including plants and animals, is kept safe. You might still find old equipment there, showing its past life as a working quarry.

The quarry also has three lakes, known as Cawdor Ponds. These lakes were created when the quarry filled with water. They are now used by the Matlock Angling Club for fishing and are a popular spot for people to swim, especially during warm weather.

Stone for Famous Landmarks

The Peak District is well-known for its history of quarrying. Stone from Cawdor Quarry was very strong and useful. It was even sent to London to help build famous places. For example, stone from here was used for Hyde Park Corner, a busy area in the heart of London, and the Thames Embankment, a wall built along the River Thames to protect the land from flooding.

New Life for the Quarry

Around the year 2000, a large supermarket company called Sainsbury's bought the land where Cawdor Quarry used to be. They planned to build a new supermarket there. This idea caused some debate among local shopkeepers and residents.

Developing Matlock Town Centre

To make the project better for the whole town, the plans grew to include more than just the supermarket. They aimed to improve a lot of Matlock's town centre. These plans included:

• Building a new bus station near the supermarket.
• Changing the route of the main A6 road to make traffic flow better.
• Thinking about making Crown Square a pedestrian-only area, where markets could be held.
• Considering making the bridge over the River Derwent a one-way street.

Eventually, the plans for the new bus station, the A6 road changes, and the one-way bridge were all approved.

Construction and Opening

Work on the new road began in January 2007, carried out by a company called Birse Engineering. At the same time, Bowmer & Kirkland Ltd, the main builders for Sainsbury's, started constructing the supermarket. The new Sainsbury's store opened its doors on Thursday, October 4, 2007. The petrol station at the site opened later that month, on October 25.

Trains and Future Plans

The Peak Rail Heritage Railway centre uses part of the old Cawdor Quarry railway tracks. These tracks were once used to connect the quarry to the main railway line in Matlock. To bring back the full connection to the main line, some of the old loading areas at the quarry will need to be removed to make way for new tracks.

There are also plans for even more development at Cawdor Quarry. Over 400 new homes are planned to be built in an area called Matlock Spa. This housing project is expected to start soon, after the supermarket and road improvements were finished.