Working Lives: ‘Magnum’: the quarry, village and their characters.

Through the 19th Century, the industrial revolution created a need for stone - for the factories, for the railway platforms, for the streets and houses of the expanding towns. What had been small-scale quarries meeting mostly local need, became much larger operations and also grew in number and with a greater spread of customers, reached by the expanding network of railways. Magnum Bonum Quarry was opened in 1830, extracting sandstone of exceptional quality from the moors above Hade Edge, Holmfirth, to use for flagstones and walling. By 1860 there were some 60 quarrymen employed and they set up a community of around 40 houses for themselves and their families. The village was arranged around a triangle of common land, with a pub at each corner, two wells for drinking water, shops, a butcher, a barber, a church and even a jail. There is now little remaining to see, other than the quarry workings. This presentation, kindly hosted by Holme Valley Civic Society, is delivered by Lawrence Baylin, using material provided by Julia Hinchliffe, Roger Deakin and others, brings the quarry and village at Magnum to life. Copies of Julia’s book will be available to buy.

Timings & Tours

Thursday 18 September:

7.30-9pm

Location & directions

Civic Hall, Huddersfield Road, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, HD9 3AS

Directions:

Park in Crown Bottom Car Park

Contact on day:

Holmfirth Civic

Telephone number:

+441484682643

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

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