Editing Crich (section)

== Quarrying ==
[[Image:Crich Quarry 1900s.jpg|thumb|Quarrying in the early 1900s]]
Geologically, Crich lies on a small inlier of [[Carboniferous limestone]] (an outcrop on the edge of the [[Peak District]] surrounded by younger [[Carboniferous|Upper Carboniferous]] rocks).

Quarrying for [[limestone]] probably began in Roman times. In 1791 [[Benjamin Outram]] and Samuel Beresford bought land for a quarry to supply limestone to their new [[ironworks]] at [[Butterley]]. This became known as Hilt's Quarry, and the stone was transported down a steep [[wagonway]], the [[Butterley Gangroad|Butterley Company Gangroad]], to the [[Cromford Canal]] at [[Bullbridge]]. Near there they also built [[lime kiln]]s for supplying farmers and for the increasing amount of building work. Apart from a period when it was leased to Albert Banks, the quarry and kilns were operated by the Butterley Company until 1933.<ref>Cooper, B., (1983) ''Transformation of a Valley: The Derbyshire Derwent,'' Heinneman, republished 1991 Cromford: Scarthin Books</ref>
The gangroad, descending some 300 feet in about a mile, was at first worked by gravity, a brakeman "spragging" the wheels of the wagons, which were returned to the summit by horses. However, in 1812 the incline was the scene of a remarkable experiment, when William Brunton, an engineer for the company, produced his [[Steam Horse locomotive]].

=== Crich Mineral Railway ===
In 1840 [[George Stephenson]], in building the [[North Midland Railway]], discovered deposits of coal at [[Clay Cross]] and formed what later became the [[Clay Cross Company]]. He realised that burning lime would provide a use for the coal slack that would otherwise go to waste. He leased Cliff Quarry and built limekilns at Bullbridge. In 1841, he built the '''Crich Mineral Railway''' to connect the quarry to the limekilns at [[Ambergate railway station|Ambergate station]]. This included a {{convert|550|yard}} long, self-acting [[cable railway|incline]] known as "The Steep", with a maximum gradient of 1 in 5.<ref>{{cite web |title=Site record MDR7576 - Route of Crich Mineral Railway, Crich and Ripley |url=https://her.derbyshire.gov.uk/Monument/MDR7576 |publisher=Derby County Council}}</ref>

The railway was probably the first [[metre gauge railway]] in the world.<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Marshall |title=The Guinness Book of Rail Facts and Feats |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |date=1979 |page=29}}</ref>

=== End of quarrying ===
Cliff Quarry closed in 1957, though it restarted at the western end until 2010 when it was mothballed. The eastern end was bought by the Tramway Museum in 1959.

Hilt's Quarry closed in 1933 and is derelict. For 38 years, [[Rolls-Royce plc|Rolls-Royce]] used it for dumping low-level [[radioactive waste]] such as [[enriched uranium]], [[cobalt-60]] and [[carbon-14]]. Following a campaign and blockades by villagers in the Crich and District Environment Action Group, dumping ceased in 2002. In 2004 the Government backed an [[Environment Agency]] document banning further dumping, and Rolls-Royce will be required to restore and landscape the site.<ref>[http://www.belpernews.co.uk/news/Hopes-for-end-to-nuclear.352648.jp "End to Nuclear Dumping"] ''Belper News''</ref><ref>[http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/Final-victory-for-campaign.815114.jp "Final victory for campaign"], Emily Davies, ''[[Matlock Mercury]]'', 30 June 2004</ref><ref>Eco Sounding, Paul Brown, ''The Guardian'', 4 August 2004</ref>