Chicksgrove Quarry facts for kids
Chicksgrove Quarry is a special place in Wiltshire, England. It's a large area, about 14 acres, that is important for its geology. This means it has interesting rocks and earth formations. It was officially recognized as a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI) in 1971.
A special type of rock called Chilmark stone is dug up here. This stone is a kind of limestone. The company that runs Chicksgrove Quarry also works at Chilmark Mine, which is about 1.5 miles away.
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What is Chilmark Stone?
Chilmark stone is a very good quality rock used for building. It's popular for new buildings and for fixing old ones. People use it all over the South of England and even across the country. It's often used when other stones like Reigate stone or Malmstone need to be matched.
Famous Buildings Using Chilmark Stone
Lots of this stone from Chicksgrove Quarry has been used to repair famous buildings. For example, thousands of tonnes helped restore Salisbury Cathedral. It was also used for repairs at the Chapter House in Westminster Abbey and at Hampton Court Palace.
Why is Chicksgrove Quarry Geologically Important?
The rocks at Chicksgrove Quarry have been studied for a long time. The first person to study them was Etheldred Benett in 1819. The way the rocks are exposed, both from old and new digging, makes the quarry a "Site of Special Scientific Interest." The plans for the quarry's future include making sure these rock faces can still be seen by people for many years.
How Old is the Stone?
The Chilmark stone found at Chicksgrove Quarry is very old! It comes from the end of the Jurassic period. This was about 145 million years ago. The stone is from the upper part of the Portland Stone Formation and the lowest layers of the Purbeck Limestone Group.
