description: Originally quarried for Bath stone up until 1914, it was later put in to use by the War Department as a sub-depot of the Central Ammunitions Depot Corsham.
photos: no
history:
Originally an average size Bath stone quarry with links Monks Park Quarry, there is a geological fault running through the quarry meaning the limestone varies in depth by about 20 feet, as the quarry men have followed the stone it as resulted in one half of the quarry being 20 foot lower the other. The is an internal slope shaft taking you from the top to lower level.
Ridge was quarried up until 1914 when at the start of the First World War, Ridge was requisitioned by the War Department. They cleared out the waste stone and stacked it up in older parts of the workings and strengthened the roof so that ammunition could be stored in the mine.
During the build up to WW2 the War Department decided that there was a need for a large underground ammunitions store. It was decided that the required space could be obtained by converting four quarries, these four formed what was collectively known as the Central Ammunitions Depot Corsham. Ridge Quarry was acquired and put to use as one of these sub-depots. The three other sub-depots were Tunnel Quarry at Corsham, Eastlays Quarry at Gastard and Monkton Farleigh Mine.
Ridge Quarry was never converted to the same extent as the rest of the Central Ammunitions Depot Corsham so it became surplus soon after the war had finished. There is however evidence of Monkton-style corseting and strengthening work in the quarry but at an incomplete stage as the budget was never approved.
map:
Take a look at Nettleden.com's exclusive map of Ridge Quarry, the map shows the now blocked link to Monks Park quarry, the location of the steps and the incline to the lower level of the quarry. You can also see the boundaries of the abandoned workings which were backfilled and blocked up during the conversion work by the War Department.
web links: More about the Site - more details about the site and location CAD Corsham - the central ammunitions depot of which this quarry was a part of. Dark Places - facts and photos on Ridge Quarry (external link).
