Past Remains in South-West Britain: Kilmington Quarry, Kilmington, Devon

I've got a thing about quarries. I remember seeing them as a youngster from the coach windows when our family went on holiday in limestone country- before I lived in Devon - and the sudden view of whitened, lunar-type landscape with its workings always captivated me. So they became one of my favourite kind of places to explore as an adult urbexer.

This is one I had my eye on and is interesting because the site is part live and part abandoned, the latter comprising a Site Office (above), weighbridge, another building (possible control room), fuel station and various old pieces of machinery.

The live area (above, along with the remains of the weighbridge) contains the cement works which still supply the necessary materials for ready mix concrete.

The above photo was taken through the window of the old, abandoned Site Office, followed by interior photos below.

There have been several quarries worked in the Kilmington area since Roman times, supplying flint and grit for maintaining roads. The quarries on this particular site have been extensively worked for the last fifty years in order to provide sand and grit for the ready mix concrete industry.

Prior to that, this site began life at the beginning of WW2, when materials were needed for the construction of airfield runways at Dunkeswell and Smeathorpe. Smeathorpe, also known as Upottery, was used by the 101st Airborne Division, made famous in the book and television series 'Band of Brothers', whereas it was from Dunkeswell that the USA Bombers flew, including Lt. Joseph Kennedy (older brother of President J F Kennedy) on his fated mission when he was subsequently killed in action.

The quarry carries out work on part of the extensive Axe Valley gravel beds dating from the Quaternary Period, comprising pebbles of flint, chert, chalk and greensand (the latter of which is known to have caused the landslips between Axmouth and Lyme Regis as well as other places along the East Devon and West Dorset coastlines). There have been many quarry sites in the East Devon area, as can be seen on old maps plus the modern day OS maps, where they are marked as disused pits.

I'm not sure what this building is but I think it was a control room containing switchgear for the old plant.

Below, some lovely old derelict fuel tanks and pump.

Old and abandoned machinery are dotted around the unused part of the site.

This one's become an unofficial flower bed, covered with moss and wild plants.

And something rather unusual; a pile of partially burnt loom reels. Some like these were once used as edging around the 'Weaver's Garden' of the Old Courthouse in Axminster - which is how I know what they are - and are probably from the old carpet factory. Although what they were doing here, and why someone wanted to destroy them, is a complete mystery.

Next up, exploring the live part of the site. Happily, it was a weekend, otherwise it would have been impossible to sneak onto. And this is where I must put a disclaimer here, as I don't condone or encourage anyone to trespass or go anywhere that could be potentially dangerous; to do so is completely up to the individual and they are responsible for any resulting problems. There, that's me covered! ;)

Near to the old machinery, on higher ground, is where the far end of the cement works can be seen. These photos show the top of the hopper, where materials are unloaded down onto the conveyor belt beneath.