Merrivale quarry, a photo from Devon, England

Photographer's Note

Travelling across Dartmoor the other day, we stopped at a car park to take in some of the views.

This is Merrivale, a small hamlet situated by the River Walkham, just 3 miles NW of Princetown.
The hamlet is totally overshadowed by the enormous spoil tip from the now defunct Merrivale Quarry, that started operating in 1876 and finally closed in 1997.

Granite was quarried to produce gravestones and agricultural rollers.
And granite from this quarry has been used in a few famous structures :- New Scotland Yard is faced in this granite; Portcullis House in Westminster also includes granite from this quarry, which was to be its last contract.
This was where the stones from Old London Bridge were refinished before they were transported to Lake Havasu in the USA.
The white building is a pub, the Dartmoor Inn.

A tor can be seen on the horizon.

Thanks for looking.

jhm, holmertz, pajaran, Fis2, PaulVDV, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, ikeharel, ChrisJ, Royaldevon, macjake, adramad, fotka has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jhm (211734) 2021-08-30 10:36

Hello Jean,

A pleasant detailed view with th the big opening of the quarry
You chose a nice subject with the quarry, with lovely colours, panorama view are pleasant to look at.
Composition and presentation are well made.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

Tue (91574) 2021-08-30 10:38

Hello Jean,
It is quite remarkable to see that big hole the quarry left in the smooth green hill. Well captured from this viewpoint with the white houses well included in the foreground as well.
Lars

lousat (138609) 2021-08-30 11:02

Hi Jean,a perfect stop on your ride, the POV is perfect and the scene is very rich and interesting. The chasm left by the old mine looks like a big hole left by a meteorite .. very nice also the pub, and the "totem" that you see at the top, excellent quality as always. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

holmertz (101988) 2021-08-30 11:12

Hello Jean,
The huge dark hole in the ground is spectacular but almost shocking. It's such a scar in the otherwise gentle scenery of undulating hills and green fields. I agree with Luciano that it looks like a big hole of a meteorite. From this place you probably got the best view of it. A photo taken from up there would not have made such an impression.
Best regards,
Gert

Fis2 (169731) 2021-08-30 13:05

Witaj Jean!
A very interesting landscape, the granite mine is impressive.
Good framing, colors and light.
Well done.
Have a nice new week.
Krzysztof

PaulVDV (62802) 2021-08-30 14:06

Hello Jean,
From your point of view, the quarry really does resemble a large crater in the landscape.
The houses and cars make us realise the impressive size of the quarry.
Impressive landscape picture!
Best regards, Paul

ifege (46951) 2021-08-30 22:13

Hi Jean
Every quarry or mine needs a pub nearby. A good photo of the cute hamlet and less cute quarry behind - no doubt a popular place for children to play.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (115539) 2021-08-30 22:56

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
wow!!!I love this peaceful landscape
my dearest friend...it seems like
a painting from the best painter
photographer with impressive
natural details and useful
notes Granite was quarried to
produce gravestones and agricultural
rollers
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (146280) 2021-08-30 23:22

Hi Jean,
Well photographed from a photogenic POV, impressive "hole" and cliffs, nice landscape all around with this green countryside, good also the road and the pleasant sunlight, tfs.

ChrisJ (171222) 2021-08-31 8:02

Hello Jean,

I wonder if it would be possible to create an artificial waterfall flowing over the cliff, with landscaped forest in the horseshoe shaped depression formed by the old quarry? Good colour, sharpness and lighting and the slightly elevated pov works well here. Tfs!

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-09-01 0:44

Hi Jean
Splendid shot of this desolate place and the ruin quarry. Love the comp, view point and its natural colours. Well done
Best regards

Royaldevon (85606) 2021-09-01 1:36

Hello Jean,

From this fine pov, the quarry has a dramatic effect on the landscape. It appears like the result of some meteorite, landing with force!
The road creates an interesting guide line, past the white houses and directing to the quarry debris, which isn't immediately apparent.

I think you could have cropped most of the featureless sky (we have had many of them this year) without spoiling the composition and then the green takes over.

Isn't it amazing just how important this small, Devonshire location was for the production of expensive stone!

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

macjake (98262) 2021-09-01 15:12

Hi Jean
I read the note, but I don't think there is anything there about that LARGE hold in the ground!!!! What on earth is that? can you find out more info and let us know, that is quite shocking. and look on the left side of it, there seem to be man made steps ( I know they're not steps). as a geologist, I would be quite concerned about the stability of the landscape. quite interesting, this has intrigued me. cheers
Craig

vjmite (6514) 2021-09-02 5:16

Hi Jean,

That huge hole looks quite surreal in the otherwise smooth and green landscape. There's so much spoil sitting around, they could make a few thousand good-sized gravestones from these pieces. I like the inclusion of the tor at the top of the hill.

Vince

adramad (72562) 2021-09-02 10:36

Hi Jean.
A very interesting composition, before reading your note looking at the image, I wondered what that huge round hole would be, the foreground now everything is clear; These well-marked pitches, the large trees and the pub building complete the charm of this quiet place.
Sharpness, lighting, color, and magnificent composition; they are managed to perfection, in this beautiful image.
I like very much.
You have a good day. Very best regards.
Luis.

ikeharel (112439) 2021-09-02 23:24

Good morning Jean,
The houses and trees in the foreground gave superior scale to appreciate the big hole dug in thsi specific quarry, like a wound on earth.
Anyway, masterfully taken this photo from a high point.
My best regards,
Ike

mkamionka (73374) 2021-10-02 8:54

Hi Jean,
It is quite interesting to see a sudden hole in the hill.
There are a lot of spots like that which are remainder of the mining times in the North York Moors.
Nice point of view here with the charming farm.
Very well done,
M

fotka (8907) 2022-04-25 5:03

Hi Jean,
The peaceful landscape of countryside is distracted by big hole from previous quarry.
I think the people who live there are happy that the quarry has been closed.
Nice panorama with good quality of the photo.
Best regards,
Zbigniew