Cocking Lime Works

Cocking Lime Works is an abandoned chalk quarry in West Sussex spanning several hectares on the South Downs landscape. Industrial structures and chalk formations remain visible across the site, marking where extraction and processing once took place.

Chalk extraction began here around 1715 when two lime kilns were built to produce materials for construction and agriculture. Operations continued for many decades, becoming an important part of the local economy.

The site shows how local industries shaped communities in the region: workers extracted chalk and lime here to supply building materials to surrounding towns. The landscape reflects a period when quarries like this one anchored the rural economy.

The site is managed by the Cowdray Estate and access is restricted; visitors should check current conditions before planning a visit. Entry typically requires permission and care should be taken as the ground is uneven and some structures are unstable.

A significant earthquake in September 1833 triggered a rockfall in the pit that killed several workers and made the site dangerous for years afterward. This catastrophic event remains one of the most dramatic moments in the site's history.