Quarries, Chalk and Pit/falls – Walk along Segment 34

On Sunday 24th April at 11 am: Quarries, Chalk and Pit/falls –  we joined artist and amateur geologist Gail Dickerson on segment 34 of Inspiral Trail for an exploration of all things chalky and geological by Riddlesdown Quarry. Finding and using chalk to mark our riddling way across the outer edges of South London towards Biggin Hill.

Images from the days investigations follow; as we walked up from Kenley Station to the tunnel entrances of the mysterious Optical Surfaces Ltd, the sunlight radiated from the surfaces of Riddlesdown Common.

Apart from the large quarries such as the site of Riddlesdown – Kent was riddled with smaller diggings and caverns such as the infamous deneholes whose origin and ubiquity on the outer skirts of London and onto the Downs, remained a riddle in the 19thC. Sudden collapses and sinking could occur anywhere our ancestors might have quarried for chalk and flint. See for  Darenth Valley example.

Further information on deneholes can be accessed here.

For the walk we meet at 11 am Kenley Station on Sunday 24th April. The walk will end at New Addington at 4pm where there are transport links into central London.

Please bring suitable clothes and walking shoes for changeable Spring Weather plus a picnic. We ask all participants on walk to sign up here on eventbrite and give a small donation to our collective artist-led project.