Cawdor Quarry

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Cawdor Quarry is a dis-used quarry in Matlock, Derbyshire. Much of it is a designated as a Site of Special Sceintific Interest (SSSI).

The Peak District is renowned for its quarrying, and stone from Cawdor Quarry was used in the construction of both Hyde Park Corner and the Thames Embankment in London.

Around 2000, the quarry land was purchased by the supermarket giant J Sainsbury who propsed the building of a new supermarket by the spring of 2002. This hit against much opposition from local shopkeepers and proposals to regenerate most of the centre of Matlock became part of the plan. This included a new bus station (to be located close to Sainsbury's), the diversion of the A6 road, the possibility of making Crown Square into a pedestrianised area where markets could be held, and the possibility of making the bridge over the River Derwent one-way. Until October 2006, apart from some limited clearance of the site, no building work had been undertaken. Recently however, Birse Engineering, who are the contractors of J Sainsbury, have begun work in earnest, and an opening date of August 2007 is now predicted.

There are also plans to build 400+ new homes at Cawdor Quarry in a development called Matlock Spa. This additional development will occur following the completion of the supermarket project.