Hanson's Coldstones Quarry

Coldstones Quarry, situated on Greenhow Hill at 1400 feet above sea level, is one of the highest quarries in Britain.  Several small limestone quarries operated around Greenhow over the last two centuries and in the early 1900s the surrounding hills were dominated by stone quarries. Gradually these closed until Coldstones became the last working quarry in the area. Operated by Hanson, a member of the Heidelberg Cement Group, it provides aggregates and asphalt for major construction projects across the U.K.

The quarry currently covers an area of about 30 hectares. It is worked on 6 benches, 15-18m high, to a depth of 300m O.D. at the base of the quarry. Coldstones provides an average of 700,000 tons of aggregate each year, and supplies building materials into West and North Yorkshire. From the Coldstones Cut you can see the quarrying operations, including the blasting, extraction and crushing of rock. You can also see the geological strata which make up the quarry and which provide the raw material for its products. The quarry has an estimated life of 15-20 years, and after that time it is anticipated that it will be allowed to green over and return to nature.

Coldstones Quarry has achieved both a 5 Star Environmental Award from the Quarry Products Association and the Harrogate Borough Council Special Award for Environmental Excellence, in recognition of educational work with local schools and its active support of the local heritage.

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The Coldstones Cut in pictures

Website designed by
Red Bonsai Strategic Design

Principal photographer: Paul Harris
Additional photography: Steve Colbourne

The Coldstones Cut in pictures

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Always wear a helmet on-site!

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut in the making

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut Launch Event

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut Launch Event

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut Launch Event

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut Launch Event

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut Launch Event

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Coldstones Cut Launch Event

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Views from the Coldstones Cut

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Information panel at the Coldstones Cut

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

What a view!

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

Wildlife at the Coldstones Cut

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

360º views from the Coldstones Cut

Photo credit Paul Harris, 2010

The Coldstone Cut at dawn

Photo credit Steve Colbourne, 2010

The Coldstone Cut at dawn

Photo credit Steve Colbourne, 2010

The Coldstone Cut at dawn

Photo credit Steve Colbourne, 2010

Up comes the sun

Photo credit Steve Colbourne, 2010

The Coldstone Cut at dawn

Photo credit Steve Colbourne, 2010

The Coldstone Cut at dawn

Photo credit Steve Colbourne, 2010

The Coldstone Cut at dawn

Photo credit Steve Colbourne, 2010

The Coldstone Cut at dawn

Photo credit Steve Colbourne, 2010

Coldstones Cut December 2010

photo credit Bob Orange

Coldstones Cut December 2010 (2)

Photo credit Bob Orange

Coldstones Cut December 2010 (3)

Photo credit Bob Orange

Coldstones Cut December 2010 (4)

Photo credit Bob Orange

Coldstones Cut December 2010 (5)

Photo credit Bob Orange

Dawn on the shortest day of the year, December 2010

Photo credit Bob Orange, 2010

Dawn on the shortest day of the year, December 2010

Photo credit Bob Orange, 2010

Dawn on the shortest day of the year, December 2010

Photo credit Bob Orange, 2010

Holly Wilson the 10,000th visitor
The trophy!
The team at the Bruntwood Award. Photo credit Paul Harris
The Bruntwood, Arup Arts and Business Award 2011. Photo credit Paul Harris
The Bruntwood, Arup Arts and Business Award 2011.
Visitors 4th May 2011

copyright Anthony Greenwood, 2011

Visitors 4th May 2011

Copyright Anthony Greenwood, 2011

The Coldstones Cut Book

copyright Paul Harris,2011

The Coldstones Cut May 2011

Photo credit Anthony Greenwood, May 2011

Cuban Lift at the Coldstones Cut June 2011

Cuban Lift the famous band which specialises in playing music from South America using a mixture of traditional instruments such as pan pipes, bongos and rain sticks and contemporary flutes and guitars, at the Coldstones Cut. The band then went on to play at the Old Workhouse in Pateley Bridge to draw an end to the very successful North Yorkshire Open Studios event.

Photo taken by Biddy Noakes

The Cuban Lift June 2011

Photo taken by Biddy Noakes

The Working Quarry

Photo credit Bob Orange 2011

Coldstones Cut illuminated December 2011
The Coldstones Cut in December 2011