Sands Quarry

As you drive into Wadswick Green from Westwells you pass through the remains of Sands Quarry. Sands Quarry was mined for building stone from 1890 to 1912. It and all the nearby quarries were requisitioned by the government in the 2nd World War but it was not redeveloped like the others. It was left as an emergency exit from the much larger Spring Quarry to the north so we can still see the old Victorian mine entrance. Spring Quarry became an aircraft factory and later an alternative seat of government in the event of a nuclear war.

The area above Spring Quarry (locally known as the Donkey Field) was developed into an accommodation site, initially for the navvies creating the underground factory and later factory workers (had the factory been brought into full use). A second similar camp later became HMS Royal Arthur and is now Wadswick Green. Spring Quarry gives us some indication of what the WG site looked like in the past. As the “Donkey Field” is about to be redeveloped I have started a photographic project to remember it.