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Monks Park Slope Shaft

Gastard/The Ridge, Corsham.

The underground quarry extended to an area of about 38 acres entered by slope shaft with 212 steps, with the working faces approximately 29 metres below ground level.

An underground connection to Ridge Quarry, was blocked by Hanson.

Alternative Names: Monk's Park, Monks Park Northern Quarry, Monks North, Sumsion's Monks

Notes: Monks Park was one of the last underground quarries in operation, closing in 2005. It was initially called Sumsions Monks or Monks North in 1886 by Sumsions. Later still, the mine was under the ownership of The Bath and Portland Stone Company before this later became ARC and then Hanson.

The quarry was taken over by the War Department in 1937 for use as an ammunition and explosives store. However, the site was surplus to requirements in 1941 and remained unused until 1954. A two year conversion of 10 acres of the quarry, including a new reinforced lift shaft, then provided additional storage for the Royal Navy.

In 1995 the Royal Navy's storage area was sold to Leafield Engineering. The remaining area was worked for stone until 2005. In February 2009, Leafield Engineering experienced a fire underground, which allowed smoke to leak into the workings.

In 2016, after lying dormant for 12 years, Hanson began quarrying again but the site was then sold to the Johnston Quarry Group. However, in March 2018 the quarry was closed and the owners claimed it had become stagnant.

Approximately 125 hectares of mineral reserves in the underground quarry and a large area of the surface were offered for sale in June 2018. The estate agent details advertised 1.253 hectares as a stockyard above ground with a few buildings with a small wooded area to the north of the site beyond the stockpile area and an incline shaft accessing the underground quarry.