Industrial Heritage
|
Although Nidderdale AONB is now a peaceful area of rural beauty, the area's history is far more industrial. Iron Age (Nidderdale) recently discovered that industrial activity in the AONB stretches back to the Iron Age. Scattered across the AONB are the physical remains of past industrial activity, from the corn and textile mills along the courses of the rivers, to the spoil heaps and dressing floors left by coal, lead and iron ore mining. All the industrial remains in the AONB are locally important,
with some of national significance and designated as Scheduled
Monuments.
The area's industrial
products
In addition to the importance of the physical industrial
remains, the industrial sites are important for the quality of
their resources. This quality is evidenced by the long distances
industrial products were exported and the high profile projects
they were often used for. For example, stone
from the Scotgate Quarry was used in the National Gallery and the
National Safe Deposit Bank, in London. Giant
grindstones for mashing cut timber were exported from quarries in
Middle Tongue and from Dacre Top to Canada and Scandinavia, whilst
smaller stones were used by the glass industry, including the
famous Pilkington glass.
Research is yet to be done on the destinations of textile
products that formed another significant part of the AONB's
industry.
|
|
