Newbold Quarry Park

View over the former quarry

Newbold Quarry Park is a nature reserve in Newbold-on-Avon, around 1½ miles north-west of Rugby town centre, Warwickshire, England. It consists of a former water-filled quarry surrounded by woodlands and covers an area of 10.50 hectares (25.9 acres). It is managed by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust on behalf of Rugby Borough Council.[1][2]

History

The site was formerly used to quarry for Blue Lias limestone, in connection with the local cement industry. Quarrying at the site started in 1877 by the Newbold Lime & Cement Co. Ltd and several cement kilns operated alongside the quarry. Production ended in 1910, started again briefly in 1920, and was abandoned permanently by 1923 after the quarry flooded. The plant was dismantled in 1927.[3] In October 1990 two local boys aged ten and six drowned in the quarry after falling into the water,[4] following this, the then derelict site was taken over by Rugby Borough Council in 1991 and turned into a nature reserve with improved safety and access.[5]

Wildlife

Newbold Quarry Park attracts many water birds, such as great crested grebes, swans, moorhens and a variety of ducks. The clean, limey water also support native crayfish, which resemble small lobsters. Other species have also been found living in the water including smooth newts, frog tadpoles, pike and perch fish species, and also invertebrates living in the soft quarry walls. Bat boxes have also been provided.[5][1]

Facilities

Path around the former quarry.

There are viewing platforms along the blue lime-rich clay spoilbanks, and picnic sites. A number of paths have been constructed around the site, some of which are accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. In addition, a fishing pier has been constructed to allow physically disabled people to safely reach the water's edge, and a disabled-user toilet and car park has also been provided. Entry is free of charge.[5]

Diving

The quarry is up to 15 metres (49 ft) deep in places. Divers exploring it in 2018 discovered, among other things the remains of two cars dating from the 1970s and 80s, a motorbike, vertical metal beams and an old pram frame.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "LOOK: Divers find cars and motorbike in murky depths of lake at Newbold Quarry". Rugby Observer. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Newbold Quarry Parkadd to shortlist". Shakespeare Country. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Newbold". Cement Kilns. co.uk. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "Keep away from death-trap quarry". The Free Library. Coventry Evening Telegraph. 7 July 2001. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Directory of attractions - Newbold Quarry Park". The Rugby Town. Retrieved 2 June 2018.

Coordinates: 52°23′18″N 1°16′28″W / 52.3883°N 1.2745°W / 52.3883; -1.2745

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.