Lonsdale Quarry

I often end up at this quarry. It avoids a good chunk of the busy gravel track along the escarpment between Gribdale and Little Roseberry. In all the years I think I have only seen anyone else here once – a couple wild camping.

Its name appears on the 1853 O.S. map, and is probably where the stone used in the building of Christ Church in Great Ayton, opened in 1877, came from¹“Christ Church – Great Ayton.” 2012. Wikidot.com <http://greatayton.wikidot.com/christ-church> [accessed 20 June 2021] ‌.

And it’s also where quarrymen arriving for work one Monday morning in May 1874, found the body of a man hanging from the roof in their cabin. The man was Stephen Hunter, a schoolmaster at the Marwood school in the village. He had left his home on the Saturday lunchtime, saying he was going away for a few days and was last seen on the road leading to the station. Hunter was said to be 50, and was much respected in the neighbourhood. He left behind a wife, and son and daughter²“Local and District News.” Daily Gazette For Middlesbrough, 26 May 1874, p. 2. British Library Newspapers, link-gale-com.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/apps/doc/R3211379639/GDCS?u=ed_itw&sid=GDCS&xid=58a21887. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.. We will never understand what mental torment Hunter was going through to so tragically take his own life, but it was “rumoured that his connection with the liquidation of the estate of Mr Lowndes, of Ayton, may have had something to do with it“. This may well have been Mr A. E. Lowndes, of Ayton House whose effects were auctioned later in the year³“Advertisements & Notices.” Northern Echo, 14 Dec. 1874. British Library Newspapers, link-gale-com.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/apps/doc/BA3200140720/GDCS?u=ed_itw&sid=bookmark-GDCS&xid=1769149c. Accessed 20 June 2021..

• 1
  “Christ Church – Great Ayton.” 2012. Wikidot.com <http://greatayton.wikidot.com/christ-church> [accessed 20 June 2021] ‌
• 2
  “Local and District News.” Daily Gazette For Middlesbrough, 26 May 1874, p. 2. British Library Newspapers, link-gale-com.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/apps/doc/R3211379639/GDCS?u=ed_itw&sid=GDCS&xid=58a21887. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.
• 3
  “Advertisements & Notices.” Northern Echo, 14 Dec. 1874. British Library Newspapers, link-gale-com.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/apps/doc/BA3200140720/GDCS?u=ed_itw&sid=bookmark-GDCS&xid=1769149c. Accessed 20 June 2021.