Earthwork record MAB43740 - PARADISE HILL QUARRY

Granite quarry, still in use (also known as Kemnay Quarry and Paradise Quarry), depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps.

Granite quarry, still in use (also known as Kemnay Quarry and Paradise Quarry), depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps. The quarries are now largely filled with water but some extraction is still carried on and granite dressed at the site. The quarry was owned by John Fyfe, an Aberdonian, and opened in 1858. More extensive than any others in the North of Scotland, an average 250 men were employed all the year round. The quarries were worked with the aid of seven steam cranes, each capable of lifting ten tons, and two cranes of a type devised by Mr Fyfe, and named 'Blondins', which lifted smaller stones and rubbish quickly. The quarries have furnished the principal materials for the Thames Embankment and the Forth Bridge, and produce curve stones, paving stones, and building stones, of light-greyish colour and close texture, in blocks occasionally 30 feet long, and weighing 100 tons. Other famous buildings using stone from this quarry include Marischal College and the Town House in Aberdeen, and, more recently, the new Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh. A site visit in 2014 noted a number of early features surviving including a wall alongside a curving incline and the site of an overbridge, both depicted on the 2nd edition OS map at the north end of the quarry. Beside the track on a concrete block is a horizontal blondin wheel, and another wheel stands at the quarry edge. Close to a quarry face at NJ 73701710 is a timber derrick, with an attached maker's plate reading 'Henderson 2 Tons'. Rows of sett-maker's and banker mason's sheds that stood in an open area at the top of the incline are now partly used for dumping or reject concrete blocks. The electric power house still stands. Overlooking the quarry is a high feature of stone blocks which supported a blondin (shown on historic photographs). A small alcove high on the west side contains a horizontal wheel. On the east side is a wide alcove, full height, perhaps for counterbalances. A small square hole connects the alcoves.

Period Notes
From 1858; leased by Aberdonian John Fyfe by 1880 and employed 250 men.

STANIER, P, 2014, ABERDEENSHIRE QUARRIES: EXTRACTING KNOWLEDGE REPORT ON THE FINDINGS (Bibliographic reference). SAB1754.

Aug 30 2006 , AAS/06/3/DG646, AAS/06/3/DG646 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18777.

Jun 3 2005 , AAS/05/CT114-39, AAS/05/CT114-39 (Ground Photograph). SAB18255.

Jun 3 2005 , GR/05/OF/1-17, GR/05/OF/1-17 (Ground Photograph). SAB18303.

Jun 3 2005 , GR/05/OG/1-19, GR/05/OG/1-19 (Ground Photograph). SAB18302.

Jun 3 2005 , GR/05/OH/1-6, GR/05/OH/1-6 (Ground Photograph). SAB18304.

Jun 3 2005 , GR/O5/CT71-4, GR/O5/CT71-4 (Ground Photograph). SAB18271.

Oct 5 2000 , AAS/00/14/CT9-16, AAS/00/14/CT9-16 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17506.

Oct 5 2000 , AAS/00/14/G34/9,10, AAS/00/14/G34/9,10 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17505.

Record last edited

Dec 21 2021 11:54AM