Monument record MDR9795 - Barreledge Quarry, Black Rocks, Cromford

The site is shown as 'Barreledge Quarry' on an OS map at the end of the 19th century, with an associated tramway [SMR 29714] that leads from the quarry to the Cromford & High Peak Railway shown on an early 20th century OS map. (1) Of St Mary's Church in Wirksworth [SMR 15533], Pevsner states that nothing older than 1272 survives. But the foundation is far older and some earlier stone was almost certainly reused. On petrographic affinity, it is similar to Black Rock/ Barrel Edge but some local traditions suggest the closer hillside, Gorsey Bank as the source. It has been suggested that, Barrel Edge Quarry provided the course pink sandstone (Ashover Grit) which lends particular character to Cromford Mills [SMR 9723] and all the more mundane buildings of Cromford. Rock house, built in 1776 also appears to be drawn from the same source. The Quarry was still in work with 20 'men' in 1897. (3)