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Ladycross Stone has been quarried by hand at Ladycross Quarry for at least 300 years (no explosives are used) and is one of the few remaining quarries where stone is won by hammer and wedge.

Ladycross Stone is a flaggy, sedimentary sandstone, soft enough to be worked when first quarried but then hardens making it very durable. This durability is what makes organisations like English Heritage recommend the stone for listed buildings in many parts of Britain.

The rock was laid down in the Carboniferous Period near the base of the Coal Measures. It is made up of parallel bedding layers defined by thin dark surfaces of mica and iron oxide, and distinctive red-brown banding which represents iron oxidation fronts which often producing more vivid colours NY9554 : Sandstone offcuts, Ladycross Bank Quarry

Such thinly-bedded sandstones were historically used in the area for roofing slabs although the quarry produces many different thicknesses suitable for a variety of building and landscaping purposes.

Areas where quarrying has been completed around the site have been restored to encourage wildlife and have been colonised by a good variety of amphibians, birds, mammals and a varied plant-life.

The Reserve has been developed over the last 40 years, and since 1997 has been managed by a community organision, the Friends of Ladycross. It borders on the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, at a height of about 350m above sea level, with extensive views over the Tyne Valley to the north and Blanchland Moor SSSI on the south. It is surrounded by Slaley Forest, a Forestry Commission commercial and amenity woodland.

Ladycross Quarry website: Link
British Geological Survey: Link

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