Bog of Donard Quarry

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This quarry is on the upper reaches of the Bloody Bridge River just below the Bog of Donard.

The main feature of interest, apart from the quarry, are four contiguous open-topped hoppers built of concrete blocks over a platform of rubble granite. A mass-concrete chute from above feeds each hopper. Short metal chutes project from each of the hoppers and presumably fed into lorries. Precisely what these hoppers contained is now uncertain, but it was probably crushed granite judging by the size of their outlets. There is, however, no surviving trace of any crushing plant. There are also two nondescript one-storey/ single-bay concrete-block sheds with monopitched corrugated metal roofs. There is also a short length of railway, presumably for bogeys.

Historical information

Local information from Hamilton’s stone yard, Annalong states that this quarry was known as the River Quarry and was worked by Hamilton of Annalong. W.E. McDowell notes that it was opened in 1927 (although nothing is marked on the 1938 OS 6” map). It is uncertain, however, whether the concrete structures are contemporary with the original workings or a later addition to process waste stone generated by the earlier activity.

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI: OS 6/3/49/1
2.Staff, Hamilton’s stone yard, Annalong.

Secondary Sources:
1. W.E. McDowell, " The extractive and allied industries of the Mournes, Co Down" (unpublished BA thesis, Dept. Geography, QUB 1965).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This quarry is a familiar feature on the well-trodden Bloody Bridge footpath to Slieve Donard. Although Carr's Face is just down from it, there is no connection between the two.