Mealbank Quarry is a disused quarry near the village of Ingleton. Closed in 1910 the site was once a hive of industrial activity centred on the Hoffmann lime kiln. The area is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Site of Special Scientific Interest and has the potential to become an important recreational, educational and tourism asset for the village and the wider area.
The Mealbank Quarry Development Group
In 2002 the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) became involved in plans to develop Mealbank Quarry and we’re now working alongside Ingleton Parish Council, Ingleborough Archaeology Group, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, English Heritage and Craven District Council to bring about a renaissance of the site.
The Mealbank Quarry Development Group is working closely with local people. In June 2010 residents of Ingleton were invited to share their views on how the site could be used. Some of the proposals include:
- Interpretation of the site’s industrial archaeology, geology, flora and fauna
- Waymarked archaeological and natural heritage trails
- Conversion of a building into an interpretation facility
- Linking the site together with several other sites into a ‘Limestone Industry Trail’.
Although opinion varies on how the site should be developed everyone agrees that it must be sensitive to its rich archaeological, geological and ecological qualities.
The project has received funding from the North Yorkshire Aggregates Grants Scheme (NYAGS) (administered by YDMT), and the Yorkshire Dales LEADER programme.
The funding for this project is being made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union.
Click here to find out more about European Funding.