Middleton limestone mine is an extensive working running between Middleton-by-Wirksworth and Hopton Wood. Underground working started here in 1959, and ceased in about 2005, although the current owners (Omya) have not given up the lease so future working remains a possibility.An account of the mine and the stone won from it, which was used extensively for commonwealth war graves, can be found online at [url]http://www.hoptonwoodstone.co.uk/middleton_mine.htm[/url]. />A small map of the workings is printed in Mining History vol 16. no.2 "The Geology of the Wirksworth Mines" by Trevor Ford, and there is a particularly good photograph taken inside the mine by Paul Deakin on the cover, which gives a good impression of the scale of the workings.Before Middleton Limestone mine was driven a surface quarry supplied stone to the CHPR at Steeplehouse via the Killers Branch (named after the Quarries owners). The quarry ceased operation in 1967 along with the branch line.Part of the branch line now forms the Steeplehouse Light railway which operates narrow gauge passenger trains along the route.
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