record MDR13783 - Coxbench Quarry, Castle Wood, Coxbench

Only the foundation arches of Lomb's original mill (1721) remain. These are of a buff-brown sandstone for which there appears to be no documented source, but a site inspection suggests that it came from one of the Little Eaton (Ashover Grit) or Coxbench (Rough Rock) sites. Peckwash Paper Mill (1800) is of coursed stone, the most probable source being Eaton Bank (Little Eaton), or less probably Coxbench. (1) There is a quarry shown on the 1st edition 25" Ordnance Survey map of c. 1880 near Coxbench, complete with an associated tramway linking the quarry with the nearby Ripley Branch railway. This may have been one of the sources of stone mentioned by Thomas in 2012. Also shown on the 1st edition 25" Ordnance Survey map of c. 1880 is an old quarry to the south of the larger Coxbench Quarry. (2) At the time of the 3rd edition 25" Ordnance Survey map of the early 20th century the quarry appears to still be in use and has been greatly extended. (3) Modern maps show the quarry as disused. (4) Tunnel mouth of siding from Midland Railway Ripley branch still visible but quarry largely filled in. (5)