 | Worcestershire NA‑class     | ||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Quarries edit
Larger Quarries:
Hollybush, Midsummer Hill, SO 762370 - part of the Eastnor Castle estate.
The Gullet, Swineyard Hill, SO 763380 - last to finish works, 1977
Earnslaw Quarry, The Wyche, SO 772442 and SO 772447 - Run by R.C.Laird (Robert Laird), then Malvern Hills Granite Company Ltd., then bought by Worcestershire County Council and leased to the Malvern Hills Conservators, given to them in 2007
North Quarry, North Hill, SO 771469
Tank Quarry, End Hill, SO 768470 - Pyx Granite Co. Ltd., closed 1970, largest quarry on Hills.
There are also remains from the workings of many smaller, older quarries dotted about the Hills.[1]
Taken from MIAC.[2]
1907 - Pyx Granite Co. Ltd. obtain license from Berington's to quarry at Little Malvern and later at North Hill. 1912 - so much stone being moved between quarries and Malvern Wells and Malvern link train stations that roads were virtually impassible. 1924 - Malvern hills Act - Conservators given extra powers to raise funds and compulsorily purchase quarries, with the intention of stopping quarrying on the Hills completely by 1960. 1929 - Conservators compulsory purchase powers expire. Inadequate funds meant that several quarries continued to operate.
1977 - Quarrying at the Gullet ends.[3]
When did quarrying start? When did it stop? What quarries are/were there on the hills Many local buildings, particularly those of the gothic Victorian architecture of large villas and churches, are made from Malvern granite 'rag-stone' - odd-shaped rather than cut into bricks due to its hardness, and used with sandstone quoins, jambs, and lintels. Quarries today - what to say? Tank quarry recently returned to control of conservators.
Diving in the Gullet
http://www.worcesterdivers.com/dive-site-resources/gullet-quarry/
Climbing
While the geology of the Hills makes much of the area unsuitable for climbing,[4] there are several climbable routes.[5]
Conservation value of quarries (habitat for bats/birds/etc)
Habitat edit
Malvern Hills AONB contains 15 SSSI's (http://www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk/pages/key_features.asp)
Discuss grazing, both with sheep and cattle, to reduce scrub and improve habitat for flowers. Also mention that it was initially (still?) unpopular with dog walkers.
Malvern Hills Conservators maintain a flock of Cheviot ewes, and a small herd of Galloway and Belted Galloway cattle, grazed on the Hills and commons to help maintain the habitat by keeping down encroaching bracken and gorse.[7]
References edit
- ^ "Small Quarries in the Malvern Hills". Malvern Industrial Archaeology Circle. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ "More on Quarries in the Malvern Hills". Malvern Industrial Archaeology Circle. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ "Quarrying away the Malvern Hills". BBC Hereford & Worcester. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 10 january 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Climbing". Malvern Hills Conservators. Retrieved 10 january 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Smith, Roger (2005). "Rock Climbs on the Malvern Hills" (PDF). West Midlands Rock. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ "Search: Malvern Hills, rescued". Malvern Gazette. Newquest Media Group. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ^ "Conservation of Wildlife: Management of the Hills and Commons". Malvern Hills Conservators. Retrieved 10 January 2010.