Minera Quarry and Lime Works
The Minera Lime Works were once the largest lime workings in the north of Wales. Lime burning at Minera is recorded from as early as 1620 but the Minera Lime Company was established in 1852.
The total output from the Minera area quarries was estimated, in 1859, to be around 300,000 tons, with 200,000 tons of this converted to lime.
The Minera Lime Company became a limited company in 1865, and this prompted investment into the works.
Using this money, the company erected a "Hoffmann kiln". Originally destined for brickmaking, it was soon converted to lime burning. This kiln still exists and is one of three that were purpose-built for lime burning left in the UK: another is located at Langcliffe in Yorkshire, another is located at Llanymynech Limeworks.
It also had extensive kilns, still there to this day. The works closed in 1972 and the Wrexham and Minera Branch railway lines were lifted at around the same time.
Whilst the lime works may have closed the quarry remained open as a source of road building materials until 1993.
The quarry is owned by Lafarge Aggregates successor to Redland plc. Tarmac also had involvement in the site. There is believed to still be viable reserves of limestone present though Lafarge Aggregates do not have any interest in reviving quarrying here.
The Minera Quarry Trust which was established in 2005 negotiated with Lafarge Aggregates with the aim of conserving the former quarry site for the benefit of the public. Since then the trust has made significant progress in developing a plan of action for the site that encompasses both short term improvements and long term sustainability for the site. The Trust worked in partnership[4] with North Wales Wildlife Trust to develop the project and received political endorsement from Wrexham County Borough Council.
North Wales Wildlife Trust purchased the site for £1 from Tarmac, who also donated £100,000 so work could be carried out to make the site safe for public access. The site was officially opened on 2 June 2018 as their 36th Wildlife Reserve in North Wales.
The quarry contains entrances to the important caves Ogof Dydd Byraf and Ogof Llyn Du whose passages come very close to Ogof Cefn-y-Gist and Ogof Llyn Parc. starting in the quarry linked to many underground rivers.
Read MoreThe total output from the Minera area quarries was estimated, in 1859, to be around 300,000 tons, with 200,000 tons of this converted to lime.
The Minera Lime Company became a limited company in 1865, and this prompted investment into the works.
Using this money, the company erected a "Hoffmann kiln". Originally destined for brickmaking, it was soon converted to lime burning. This kiln still exists and is one of three that were purpose-built for lime burning left in the UK: another is located at Langcliffe in Yorkshire, another is located at Llanymynech Limeworks.
It also had extensive kilns, still there to this day. The works closed in 1972 and the Wrexham and Minera Branch railway lines were lifted at around the same time.
Whilst the lime works may have closed the quarry remained open as a source of road building materials until 1993.
The quarry is owned by Lafarge Aggregates successor to Redland plc. Tarmac also had involvement in the site. There is believed to still be viable reserves of limestone present though Lafarge Aggregates do not have any interest in reviving quarrying here.
The Minera Quarry Trust which was established in 2005 negotiated with Lafarge Aggregates with the aim of conserving the former quarry site for the benefit of the public. Since then the trust has made significant progress in developing a plan of action for the site that encompasses both short term improvements and long term sustainability for the site. The Trust worked in partnership[4] with North Wales Wildlife Trust to develop the project and received political endorsement from Wrexham County Borough Council.
North Wales Wildlife Trust purchased the site for £1 from Tarmac, who also donated £100,000 so work could be carried out to make the site safe for public access. The site was officially opened on 2 June 2018 as their 36th Wildlife Reserve in North Wales.
The quarry contains entrances to the important caves Ogof Dydd Byraf and Ogof Llyn Du whose passages come very close to Ogof Cefn-y-Gist and Ogof Llyn Parc. starting in the quarry linked to many underground rivers.
