About The Quarry

Depending how you look at it, located at far end of Balfour Road, or behind Great Mills (as was), 'The Quarry' as known locally is, like Kingswinford Park Pool, nothing more than balancing lake to stop residents near Dawley Brook getting flooded back gardens.

Dug at the same time as Kingswinford Park Pool, around 1975, The Quarry used to be shallow lake until silt and crap from big tunnel at northern end turned it into a swamp. Useful summer hang-out, especially grassy bank on far side and tunnel mouths. Small tunnel was prone to being dammed; in '86 council frogmen had to remove piece of plywood that caused lake to flow over concrete apron into cage-covered overflow drain.

The 'Big Tunnel' provided ideal opportunity for adventure, with wooden pallets used as 'base camp', attempts were made to traverse the entire tunnel armed only with a torch and wellies. Unlike relatively uncomplicated Kingswinford Park Tunnels, the Big Tunnel offered obstacles such as a slimy 'onion' steps, the deafening roar of water and probably noxious gases, but against all odds, it was conquered.

Quarry Moments

• Bonfires; grass fires
• Popping up through manhole covers on Pensnett Trading Estate from Big Tunnel
• Being baffled by path that led nowhere

Not to be confused with: The Sandhole; The Fens; Kingswinford Park Pool; The Private Pool; Wartell Bank Aquatics.

Click here for the Quarry Gallery.