"John Hall" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Phil Gurr writes:
Merrivale Quarry on Dartmoor (Between Princeton and Tavistock) was filled
to
the top with snow in 1963.
It was 160 feet deep and did not thaw completely until June of that year.

Phil
Marooned in Tavistock at that time

Thanks. That's very similar to the earlier case of Tavy Cleave (IIRC),
also on Dartmoor, which was also supposed to have been completely filled
and not to completely melt until June, I think after the Great Blizzard
of March, 1891. It's strange that the more recent instance doesn't seem
to be nearly as well-known as the earlier one.

I visited Merrivale Quarry at Easter 1963 as it was one of our regular stops
on our annual Dartmoor field trip (geology). The quarry was still largely
filled with snow at the time but the quarry was working normally as
sufficient granite blocks had been stockpiled the previous autumn so that
slab cutting was able to continue through the winter. I would think that
snow infill was fairly common at Merrivale and winter slabbing was normal
practise - but their stock must have been getting thin that year!

Phil