Vinny Combe – Quantock Views

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View taken from above Vinny Combe, with the trees at Staple Plain visible in the top right corner.

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Vinnicombe Quarry opened in about 1888 and closed in about 1958. The equipment was later sold at Bishops Lydeard.

Old machinery left when the Vinnicombe Quarry closed. The equipment was late sold by auction at Bishops Lydeard. The quarry started around 1888 and closed in about 1958, although it re-opened briefly in about 1960 to…

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Children exploring equipment at Vinnycombe Quarry which closed in about 1958.

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A view of the rhododendron in Vinnicombe. The plant began to establish itself in the combe during the 1930’s, probably after being planted to provide cover for pheasants, and it became very popular with visitors, when…

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A view from the track leading to Staple Plain (behind the photographer) and alongside Vinnicombe (to the right. St Audries Church can be seen to the right.

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A view up the side of Vinny Combe towards Beacon Hill. The lady is Margaret Pinn.

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A view of the dense rhododendron (R. ponticum) growth in Vinny Combe. This invasive, non-native plant filled the combe. Although a popular tourist attraction when in flower, it was seeding all over the Quantock Hills Area…

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The quarry at Vinnicombe closed in 1958. It briefly re-opened in about 1960 to provide material for use in the construction of Hinckley Point ‘A’ power station. This view shows some the rear of the stone…

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The quarry at Vinnicombe closed in 1958. It briefly re-opened in about 1960 to provide material for use in the construction of Hinckley Point ‘A’ power station. This view shows the building housing the stone crusher,…

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A view of Vinny Combe quarry. The end of the wall which ran alongside the Great Road (West Quantoxhead to Holford, over the hills) can be seen at the top of the picture, just right of…

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A view in the old Vinny Combe quarry, taken looking north towards the sea. When in use (before 1958) the quarry’s stone crushing machine was housed just to the left of this picture, which was taken…

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The famous Rhododendron ponticum in Vinnycombe. Vinnycombe is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the rhododendron is an invasive species. In about 2004 (when there was much more of it than in this picture)…

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A view of Vinnicombe quarry showing the wall that ran alongside the Great Road, which went from West Quantoxhead to Holford. The end of the wall shows where the road was destroyed in a quarrying ‘incident’!.

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A view over the quarry looking roughly northwards towards the A39.

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Rhododendron ponticum in Vinny Combe (or Vinnicombe). This is an extremely invasive non-native plant which was spreading across the hills by seed mostly spread from this site. In the autumn of 2010 contractors cut and burned…