Horseshoe Quarry was originally known as Furness Quarry; it was nicknamed Horseshoe-shaped Quarry by the first climbers to investigate the area. In the early 1980s, the Main Wall first attracted climbers' attention. Chris Jackson and friends put up Legal Action, an E4 protected by some spaced pegs. Other climbers came to look, added routes and it became known as a good spot for sheltered winter sport. Gradually the routes spread out, often on rock of dubious quality, but providing low and mid-grade sport routes, for which the demand was huge.
Since these early days Horseshoe has established itself as arguably the most popular limestone crag in the Peak District. It is rare to drive past the parking and for there not to be a car there. The main reason for this is the number of low-to-mid-grade sport routes that are easy to reach and often in condition throughout the year.