Description and History of Site:-
The site is a quarry cut into Carboniferous Limestone strata with a 10m+ rear working face and much stone debris within it. It is known that grindstones for the Backbarrow Gunpowder works were sourced from here. No direct evidence has survived within the quarry.

Marshall & Davies-Shiel (1969): 'At the roadside near Scout Scar, is a limestone quarry (almost hidden by trees) from which local gunpowder firms obtained their incorporating-mill runner stones; the limestone is evenly bedded and has no vertical joints. There is a 5 ft diameter stone near the entrance.'

Further Reading and References:-
Marshall, J D & Davies-Shiel, Michael. 'The Industrial Archaeology of the Lake Counties'. 1969
Johnson, David S. 'Millstone and grindstone production in the Pennines and North-west England'. A historical and archaeological survey'. Industrial Archaeology Review, 44 (2), 2022, pp. 120-32.

Help us improve this entry

The compilers welcome corrections or additional information on all sites.
Any information provided will be verified before appearing on the web site.

Email comments

Key Words :- a former production site for edge-runner grindstones

Viewing the Site :- from the adjacent road

Address :- Underbarrow Road, Underbarrow, Kendal, Cumbria
Grid Ref :- SD 4837 9238
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.324370 , Long -2.795321
Local Authority :- Westmorland and Furness Council
Pre 1974 County :- Westmorland
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Site Condition :- Earthworks only
Site Dates :- possibly 1798 - 1935?
Record Date :- 7 December 2022

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © David Johnson