Swinden Quarry

Overview

A working limestone quarry in Wharfedale between Cracoe and Grassington, begun in its modern form by P. W. Spencer in 1899 and greatly enlarged in 1902 when the railway reached it. Much of its output still leaves by rail on the surviving stub of the Skipton–Grassington line, where the site is known by another name again — Rylstone.

History

Quarrying in the vicinity dates back to 1793, but the modern works were started by P. W. Spencer in 1899 and greatly enlarged in 1902 with the opening of the adjacent railway. That line, the 8.75-mile branch from Skipton, opened in 1902 with Rylstone as its only intermediate station; the quarry has been known in railway terminology as Rylstone Quarry ever since. The section of line north of the quarry to the former terminus at Threshfield closed in 1969 and was subsequently lifted, leaving the quarry as the end of the branch. A purpose-built shunting locomotive named Cracoe, a six-wheel diesel-hydraulic, was built for the site in 1994 and has worked the Swinden limeworks since. The quarry is operated today by Tarmac.

Geology

The quarry works the Carboniferous limestone of Wharfedale, on the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales — the same great limestone mass that produces the pavements and scars of the surrounding national park, here won at industrial scale for aggregate.

Geological setting: Sedimentary Beds and Seams (well documented example)

Workings

A large open limestone quarry, rail-connected since 1902 and still despatching a significant tonnage by rail, though there can be up to 42,000 lorry journeys a year on the B6265 as well. Internal shunting is done by the locomotive Cracoe, built for the site in 1994.

Closure

Still working, operated by Tarmac. Quarrying in the immediate vicinity is recorded from 1793, but the present quarry dates from Spencer's works of 1899 and the railway-driven enlargement of 1902.

What remains

An active rail-connected limestone quarry between Cracoe and Grassington, at the end of the surviving Skipton branch. A significant tonnage leaves by rail, and the site is a well-known location among railway photographers under its railway name of Rylstone.

Not applicable — the quarry, its plant and its rail connection are in active use.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Quarrying in the vicinity dates back to 1793, but the modern works were started by P. W. Spencer in 1899 and greatly enlarged in 1902 with the opening of the adjacent railway. ¹
• The 8.75-mile Skipton–Grassington line opened in 1902 with Rylstone as its only other station; the site is known in railway terminology as Rylstone Quarry. ^1,2
• The portion of line north of the quarry to the former terminus at Threshfield closed in 1969 and was subsequently lifted, leaving the quarry as the terminus. ¹
• A significant tonnage is exported from the site by rail, although there can be up to 42,000 lorry journeys a year on the B6265. ¹
• The six-wheel diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotive Cracoe was built for the task in 1994 and has worked the Swinden limeworks since. ¹

Photographs & further reading

Images

Sources

1. (secondary) Swinden Quarry — Wikipedia
2. (secondary) Swinden Quarry (Limestone) — Railscot

Record created: 3 September 2026 · Last researched: 3 September 2026