Train buffs are often attracted to Darlington and Shildon because of their rich railway heritage. Many other visitors take time out to visit the railway museums as well and/or take a look at the oldest railway bridge in the world. However, there are plenty of other interesting places in the area as well. Middridge Quarry is one of them. It may not appeal to the average train lover but it is a good spot for anyone who likes to spend time in nature or is interested in fossils, fauna, or wildlife.
During its active years, mining of the quarry exposed fossil-rich marl slate bearing some of the oldest fossils in the world, including 11 species of fossilized fish, reptiles, and invertebrates.
A new member of the Pteridosperm (seed fern) family was also discovered at Middridge Quarry and was subsequently given a name that commemorates the area of its discovery: Pseudoctensis middridgensis.
In 1979 Middridge Quarry was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It has been disused ever since and, when it comes to fossils from the Permian Era, Middrige Quarry is presently the second most important site in the world.
Although the quarry may not have immediate appeal to people visiting the area because of its railway heritage, it does have a railway connection. The Original Quarry was opened to provide some of the stone necessary for the construction of the Darlington to Stockton railway line.
What to Expect If You Go
The area around the quarry is home to various plant species. If someone hasn’t beaten you to it, you may also be able to forage some wild blackberries.
The perimeter areas of the quarry are quite overgrown, but there is a choice of dirt paths you can follow to make your way down. The first time I went I was surprised to discover the quarry has a small pond. There doesn’t appear to be any fish but the water is pretty clear.
If you visit Middridge Quarry, you may find that you are the only person there. Then again, there might be a few other people present, often young kids, who like to explore the area or ride around on their bikes.
You may also notice a little litter. It’s not too bad but visitors have left behind things like tin cans and disposable vaping devices. The last time I went, there was even a child’s bike rusting at the edge of the water. Nevertheless, it’s generally a quiet place to go and enjoy British wildlife.
Before writing this blog post, I had to do some research because although I’ve been there a few times, I had no idea of the name of the quarry or its history. According to what I read, some people go to Middridge Quarry to drink alcohol or use drugs, often sitting with their legs dangling over the top of the quarry. I have never seen any evidence of this and have to wonder if the stories are overblown, possibly to fit some unknown political agenda. If people were drinking there regularly, I would expect to see a lot more tin cans and I have never seen any needles at all.
However, in 2022, more than 1,300 people signed a petition to prevent the council from partially filling in the quarry. The petition is still online and, at the time of writing, has close to 2,000 signatures.
According to an article in a regional newspaper, the reason the council wanted to do this was because the quarry has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Again, I have to wonder about the validity of the claim.
Given the quarry’s SSSI status, I was surprised to learn the main objections were due to people wanting to avoid all the disruption that would be caused by trucks transporting waste products. That’s sad.
On January 11, 2023, the Middridge Quarry Landfill Planning Application still appeared to be on the table. Two days later, the plans for the quarry were reported to be dumped. Hopefully, this will stay the case but it wouldn’t surprise me if the plans resurface. So, if you want to see Middridge Quarry in its present state, it may be best to visit sooner rather than later.
How to Get to Middridge Quarry
Middridge Quarry is situated around 1 km (0.6 miles) south of Middridge village. Middridge is a quiet place with a nice village green. The best way to get to the quarry from Middridge is via either of the two public footpaths.
The public footpath that runs alongside the railway line between Newton Aycliffe and Shildon, provides a third way to access the quarry and is the best choice for anyone who wants to conduct most of their journey on tarmac. It’s also the route I suggest.
Regardless of whether you are walking from Shildon towards Newton Aycliffe or vice-versa, Middridge Quarry is easy to find. The entrance is opposite a pedestrian railway crossing point that has solar panels on either side of the stile. To access the quarry, you need to walk up some steps carved into the embankment and reinforced by wooden planks.
Unfortunately, Middridge Quarry is unlikely to be accessible to many people who are disabled or have mobility issues but, unless you have difficulty climbing stairs, you should be good to go.
– – – – –
– – –
– – –
– – – – –