An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, , 2009

by H R Hannaford

Archaeology Service Archaeology Service Report Number 266 © Shropshire County Council May 2009

AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CORBET WOOD AND GRINSHILL, SHROPSHIRE, 2009

by H R HANNAFORD MIfA

A report for the GRINSHILL HERITAGE PROJECT, CLIVE AND GRINSHILL CONSERVATION GROUP

Archaeology Service Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, , SY1 2AQ Tel: (01743) 255352 Fax: (01743) 255355 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009

CONTENTS Page No SUMMARY 1 1 INTRODUCTION 2 2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 2 3 AIMS 3 4 METHODOLOGY 4 5 RESULTS 5 6 THREATS TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE 7 7 RECOMMENDATIONS 8 8DISCUSSION 9 9 REFERENCES AND SOURCES CONSULTED 12 10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 12 APPENDIX1GAZETEEROFFEATURES 13

ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1: The survey area Figure 2: The eastern part of the survey area Figure 3: The Bridge Quarries Figure 4: The central part of the survey area Figure 5: The western part of the survey area

PHOTOS Photo 1: One of the quarry faces in the Bridge Quarries (092) Photo 2: One of the cuttings (022) through the hill into the Bridge Quarries Photo 3: Machine beds (010) above the Bridge Quarries Photo 4: One of the smaller quarries (086) to the NW of the Bridge Quarries Photo 5: The cottage (001) at the Corbet Wood car park Photo 6: A ruined cottage 045 by the Church Quarry Photo 7: The boundary wall (027) between the former Acton Reynald and Hardwicke Estates Photo 8: A boundary stone (083) on the Grinshill and Clive parish boundary Photo 9: The holloway (073) running down from the Bridge Quarries to Grinshill village Photo 10: Stone steps (025) leading down to the Holloway (073) Photo 11: One of the rock-cut seats (062) beside the track up from Grinshill village Photo 12: The view point at The Cliffe and the site of the findspot of Mesolithic flints (089)

SUMMARY In 2008-9, the Archaeology Service, Shropshire County Council carried out a rapid field survey of archaeological features on Grinshill, Clive and Grinshill, Shropshire. There have previously been finds of Mesolithic and Neolithic flint from the summit of the hill, but the site is principally known as the source of Grinshill Stone, a high quality sandstone used extensively in buildings in the area from the 13th century onwards. The survey recorded a total of 135 features, mainly associated with post- medieval quarrying on the hill. A number of ruined cottages or settlement sites – probably quarrymen’s cottages – were also noted.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 1 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 1 INTRODUCTION Grinshill is located in north Shropshire, about 11kms north of Shrewsbury town centre. The hill consists of an outcrop of Triassic sandstone capped with Keuper Marl. Some of the sandstone has been altered by volcanic activity to produce a hard-wearing but easily worked freestone, known as Grinshill Stone. The geology of the hill has been exploited for this high quality building stone for hundreds of years. Most of the quarries have been abandoned since the early 20th century, but the site is used daily by many local people for quiet recreation and by those interested in geology, archaeology, the history of the quarries, wildlife and nature conservation.

The study area owned and managed by the Hardwicke Estate and Shropshire Council (the Corbet Wood Countryside Heritage Site). The hill was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2006, and part of this important geological site is a designated SSSI.

Grinshill Hill and Corbet Wood contain a wealth of flora and fauna as well as important and interesting geological, ecological and archaeological (including industrial archaeological) features resulting from man’s exploitation of the geology through quarrying. Many of the archaeological and historical features however remain unrecorded, and many are currently inaccessible.

The Grinshill Heritage Project has been established by the Clive and Grinshill Conservation Group in partnership with Shropshire Council (formerly Shropshire County Council) with funding from the Local Heritage Initiative and the Nationwide Building Society. The project aims to record, protect and interpret the biological, archaeological and historical features on Grinshill Hill and make these features more accessible. The project also seeks to restore and maintain the former views of the Shropshire landscape from the summit by managing the woodland there.

One of the tasks of the project was to conduct an archaeological survey on the hill. The Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council undertook this survey on behalf of the project in the winter of 2008/2009. The methodology used in the survey is based on that developed by Shropshire County Council’s Archaeology Service and Historic Environment Record and employed in surveys on The Stiperstones and Rectory Wood in . This report details the results of the archaeological survey.

2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND A number of flint artefacts have been found in the Grinshill area. In 1920 a Mesolithic burin or point was found just north of Grinshill summit by M.R.W. Pocock during a geological survey of the area. The implement was identified by the British Museum and is now in the collections of Rowley’s House Museum, Shrewsbury (Historic Environment Record [HER] No. 01629). In 1946 a small burnt scraper was found on the same site. Other early finds from the area include a flint flake and a blunt-backed blade.

In the late 1990s collections of flintwork found on the summit of Grinshill, Clive were brought in to the Shropshire County Council Archaeology Service (HER No. 04726). These in total comprised an assemblage of around 900 flints. The assemblage consists predominantly of Mesolithic flakes, blades and debitage, but also includes a

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 2 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 small number of flint implements. This is at present the largest known assemblage of Mesolithic material collected from within Shropshire. Two Neolithic arrowheads were found nearby in 2000 (HER No 08370).

The other main archaeological and historical significance of the site lies in the extensive quarrying of its stone for building from medieval times to the present day (HER No. 06691). The geological strata on the hill have provided a variety of building stones used locally for roofing slates, doorsteps, paving etc., and freestone for high quality building work. In particular, the best building stone, a buff-coloured freestone, has been used in high status buildings from the medieval period onwards. The stone was used at Buildwas abbey in the 12th century, and in Shrewsbury from the 13th century. The 16th century Shrewsbury Market Hall and (now Shrewsbury Library), the 18th century English Bridge and new St Chad’s Church, Shrewsbury, Attingham Hall, and Atcham Bridge, and the 19th century Shrewsbury, Chester, Gloucester and Cheltenham railway stations, and the Royal Salop Infirmary in Shrewsbury, all used Grinshill stone in their construction.

The stone was removed from the quarries by draught animals (horses and oxen) and carts or sleds. It is thought that the use of water transport was important in distributing the stone, via the rivers Roden, Tern, and Severn, before the arrival of the railways in the mid 19th century.

There is still an operational quarry at Grinshill, Grinshill Stone Quarries Ltd., adjacent to the Corbet Wood Countryside Heritage Site.

3 AIMS 3.1 Aims of the survey The principal aims of the survey project were

1. To undertake an archaeological field survey (Level 1) of the Corbet Wood and Grinshill Local Nature Reserve.

2. To provide additional archaeological management advice to land owners, especially in relation to the current management plan for the Local Nature Reserve.

3.2 Objectives In order to achieve the aims of the project the proposed survey project will: - 1. Carry out a rapid field survey (Level 1) using survey grade GPS equipment to map, and where possible interpret, archaeological earthwork remains, features, or structures. 2. Provide data to the Historic Environment Record (HER) that will enable the generation of HER records for the sites and features thus identified. 3. Provide management recommendations to the land owners with regard to any archaeological earthwork remains, features, or structures identified by the survey.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 3 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 4 METHODOLOGY 4.1 The fieldwork comprised a rapid field survey (Level 1) of the entire study area as shown on Figure 1. A Level 1 record provides non-analytical information to agreed standards, including structured indexes of the location, period, condition, and type of monument which, typically, would arise from rapid field investigation. This is accompanied by a simplified 1:10,000 cartographic record of the location and extent of the site. (RCHME 1999: Recording Archaeological Field Monuments). One team of two fieldworkers undertook this rapid field survey, walking the survey area and recording the current land use, checking the location and condition of known archaeological features, and locating and recording new features.

4.2 The survey team used a Differential Global Positioning System (GPS) for the accurate location of features. The system used was a Trimble XR Pro with sub- metre accuracy with Husky fex palm computer using FastMap software. Features were recorded as point, line and polygon data. Each feature’s co-ordinates were recorded with a simple record of its dimensions and a brief description. This data was downloaded daily onto a desk-top PC and converted into ArcGIS shapefiles to enable eventual transfer to the County Council’s Environmental Record GIS mapping.

4.3 In areas of poor or no reception, features were plotted on Ordnance Survey OS 2nd Edition base maps with reference to modern OS mapping.

4.4 Written descriptions were also made of features to a consistent format on pre- printed forms, recording the dimensions and structure of features, and the surveyor's comments. The written records and the co-ordinate data from the survey were entered onto a Microsoft Excel workbook using data fields which included those currently in use by the Shropshire Council Environmental (Sites and Monuments) Record.

4.5 A photographic record was made where appropriate using digital photography to record individual features and to place them in their landscape settings. The project archive will be retained by the Archaeology Service, for eventual deposition with the Shropshire Council’s Museum Service.

4.6 The survey has not included a detailed desk-based study. The 1st and 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 25” maps of the study area (OS 1881 & 1901/2, 25” Sheets XXI.15 & 16) were used for reference purposes and for locating features (4.3 above). A study of these two map sources added a number of features for which no remains were recorded by the field survey. The 2nd edition OS map was also used to plot paths and tracks extant in 1901/2.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 4 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 5 RESULTS 5.1 Records The field survey generated a total of 88 records. An additional 47 records were added from the desk-based study of the 1st and 2nd edition OS 25” maps. The records were compiled on a Microsoft Excel Worksheet, designed by the project staff to be compatible with the data format of Shropshire Council’s Historic Environment Record (HER).

5.2 Typology The principal monument types have been listed by the Historic Environment Record Monument Type used in the project database. The main categories include: stone quarries (and associated quarry features), buildings, boundary features, tracks. A more detailed discussion of the features appears in section 8 below.

5.3 Provisional dating The majority of the features have been provisionally dated to the Post-medieval period through to the late 19th century. Many of the recorded features appear on the 1st and 2nd editions of the Ordnance Survey 25” plan of 1881 and 1901/2 respectively (Sheet Nos. XXI.15 & 16). One site (089), a findspot of flint microliths and debitage on the summit at The Cliff, dates to the Mesolithic period. This site was a known site (HER Nos. 01629 & 04726). Another findspot (094) of two flint arrowheads (HER No 08370) lies just to the east of The Cliff.

5.4 Condition of the recorded features The field survey recorded the condition of the features identified by the survey within the study area, according to condition terms provided by the Historic Environment Record.

Condition Description No. of features Good All or nearly all features of interest are well preserved for the period they 62 represent. No sign of active damage. Fair Some damage or part destruction of features of interest apparent, or some 19 features of interest are obscured by more recent additions/alterations. For buildings, indicates structurally sound, but in need of minor repairs. Poor Damage to the majority of the original features of interest is apparent, some 19 significant features are missing. Some features of interest remain. Active damage apparent (e.g. for buildings water penetration, rot etc). Very bad The majority of features of interest are so damaged as to be not surveyable 13 or are missing. For buildings, this indicates structural failure or evident instability, loss of significant areas of roofing, or damage by a major fire or other disaster. Uncertain Features of interest can not be investigated at the time of the assessment 20 for any reason, e.g. obscured by cloud-cover, vegetation, ongoing building work, below ground services etc or the site could not be found. Destroyed All features of interest have been destroyed. No further information can be 2 gained from future investigation of the site. Includes demolished buildings unless foundations, basements etc exist which are of interest, for which use very bad.

Nearly half of the features recorded by the rapid field survey fell into the “good” condition category. Of these, however, 22 were quarries, quarry faces, or quarry features (such as debris “tails”) and 8 were tracks or paths.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 5 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009

13 features were recorded as being in a “very bad” condition; 12 of these were the remains of buildings, including cottages, outbuildings, and associated features. However, the archaeological potential of these “very bad” condition features may be high. The findspot of Mesolithic artefacts was also recorded as being in a poor condition, due to soil erosion.

Most of the features located by the documentary study were classified as uncertain as they were not located on the ground. Two of the features shown on the 1st edition OS map had been destroyed by later quarrying shown on the 2nd edition OS map.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 6 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 6 THREATS TO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE 6.1 A variety of actual and potential threats to the archaeological resource within the study area have been identified. The threats may or might result from natural causes (e.g. weather erosion), management practices (e.g. forestry, grazing regimes), and other human causes (e.g. visitor pressure).

6.2 The principal threat to the archaeological resource in the areas of woodland is through woodland management, where felling or thinning of woodland might involve the use of heavy plant. The creation of access tracks and working compounds may adversely affect archaeological earthworks.

6.3 Re-planting of woodland can have a negative affect on the archaeological resource. Ground preparation by forestry plough very destructive of archaeology and should be avoided in archaeologically sensitive areas. Different species of tree behave differently, some being deep rooted, others shallow. Some trees are more prone to wind-throw, in which case a large root-plate may be lifted, pulling up any underlying archaeology; the tree may also fall across vulnerable structures such as walls.

6.4 Additional threats to the areas of former quarrying are both natural. The main “natural” threat is that of collapse of former workings. The only known site visibly affected by natural erosion on in the areas of heathland is the findspot of Mesolithic flints on the summit at The Cliff. Continued soil erosion here might in time impact of the toposcope and trig points sited here.

6.5 The erosion at The Cliff has been compounded by visitor erosion. The management plan for the site has considered introducing grazing as a means for managing the heathland. This might create additional pressure on this area of soil erosion.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 7 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 7 RECOMMENDATIONS 7.1 This section is intended to provide recommendations for the management of the archaeological resource within the study area to address the potential threats to the resource outlined in the previous section. The recommendations made here are generic.

7.2 To minimise the impact of forestry work on the archaeological resource the location of site compounds and routing of access tracks associated with forestry work should be discussed with Shropshire Council’s Historic Environment Officer. The use of brash mats and other devices would help to preserve earthwork and other built features. Trees should be cut where practical, and the cut timber removed without causing unnecessary damage to earthworks or built features.

7.3 Re-planting of woodland should also be carried out in such a way as to avoid damage to earthworks and other archaeological features. Where re-planting on archaeologically sensitive sites is unavoidable, the use of forestry ploughs should be avoided and consideration should be given to the species to be planted.

7.4 The gradual natural erosion of the archaeological resource is part of the archaeological process. However accelerated erosion of features or structures due to, for example, severe weather conditions, may require intervention. The level of response would depend on the archaeological features affected and the nature of the erosion, but might involve restoration, consolidation, or detailed recording or archaeological excavation of the affected features. Consideration could be given to putting in place a procedure for monitoring and reporting signs of accelerated erosion or damage to archaeological features or structures.

7.5 Areas where there are known to be former quarry workings should be monitored for signs of collapse or deterioration. Visitors should be warned of the dangers of leaving the paths in these areas. Where it is considered to be necessary to fence off workings the fencing should be sympathetic to the environment.

7.6 The area of soil erosion at The Cliffe should be repaired in order to maintain the integrity of the archaeological site here (089, the findspot of Mesolithic flints). A (potentially costly) alternative might be to preserve by record the archaeological deposits by archaeological excavation. This would not address the issue of soil erosion, however. The impact of grazing on this area should also be considered.

7.7 Some selective thinning of saplings and young trees would enhance certain of the historic features on the site, for example in the vicinity of the ruined cottage (045) at Church Quarry (046). The view across to The Wrekin from the rock-cut seats (062, 063, & 065) could be restored by a similar thinning of birch and sycamore saplings.

7.8 Further detailed recording could be carried out on the area of the former workshop building (117) above the Bridge Quarries. Again, some limited clearance of saplings and scrub would assist this. This particular site adjacent to the car-park might provide a focus point for some interpretation, and might also lend itself to archaeological excavation, perhaps a community archaeology exercise.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 8 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 8 DISCUSSION 8.1 The quarries The majority of the features recorded by the survey related to the former quarrying industry on Grinshill. The histories of the various quarries from the 18th through to the early 20th centuries have been discussed in the series of booklets produced by David Thompson for the Clive and Grinshill Conservation Group (Thompson, 2003-6). Most of the quarry features recorded by the current survey have been provisionally dated to the post-medieval period through to the early 20th century. Most, in fact, in their current form probably date towards the end of this period. The absence of earlier features is a result of the continued quarrying – medieval quarry faces will have continued to be cut back in the post-medieval period through to the abandonment of most of the quarries by the beginning of the 20th century. There are some quarry faces on the south side of the hill (078 & 088) which may have surviving areas of medieval working, and a detailed study of tool marks on these faces might possibly confirm this. A study of the early Ordnance Survey mapping shows that the quarrying operations extended well beyond the study area to the north and east. Also outside the study area, the 1st edition map shows a former ironstone mine level at the southern end of Clive village, and the entrances to the former copper mines in Clive and Grinshill also lie outside the study area (Pearce, 1995)..

The quarries were operated by a number of different companies and individuals and some are named after their 18th and 19th century owners or operators e.g. Hollands’ Quarries (067 & 068), Cureton’s Quarries (005 & 069), and Downes’ Quarry (004). The largest quarry, the Bridge Quarry (092), was so named apparently because stone from here was used in the construction of the English Bridge, Shrewsbury c.1769-74.

As well as the quarries themselves, several associated features survive. There are the remains of a number of machine beds (010 - 014) above the Bridge Quarry in woodland beside the current Countryside Heritage Site car park; the machines were formerly housed within a workshop building (117) shown on the 2nd edition OS map. There are photographs of the interior of this machine shop in David Thompson’s second volume (Thompson 2004, Figs, 7av & 7aw). The remains of a building (16) possibly associated with the Bridge Quarries are just visible in undergrowth beside the track leading south out of the quarry, and there are a number of features, including further buildings (103-5, & 110-1), cranes (107-9), and tramlines (112-3) shown on the early OS 25” mapping for which there was no trace on the ground. A building (100) and a crane (102) are shown at the Church Quarry (046) and a small building (098) is shown in one of the Holland’s Quarries (067) on the 1st edition OS map but of these there was no trace on the ground.

8.2 Tracks The tracks on the hill which continue to be used by visitors to the Countryside Heritage Site and local nature reserve today include a number of haul- ways from the quarries. The tracks and paths were only recorded by the field survey where they showed archaeological features, i.e. where they ran in a holloway (015, 024, 073, & 075) or where they showed signs of paving, e.g. the track along the southern side of the hill (034), which was paved with sandstone flags. The follows a track (064) running up the hillside from Grinshill village with several associated features (rock-cut benches and steps). Eighteen paths and tracks were added to the recorded features from the desk-based study of the OS 2nd edition map (118-135). All of these paths and tracks are still in existence. Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 9 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009

8.3 Buildings and settlements A number of former settlement sites were recorded within the study area. Most of these were still occupied at the beginning of the 20th century (as evidenced on the 2nd edition OS map) and the site of one (038) is still referred to locally as “Mrs Embrey’s Cottage/Garden”. Most of these are likely to have been former quarrymen’s cottages. Seven distinct sites were identified (028, 038, 045, 050, 070, 087, and 090). For some of these settlements the likely original extent of the settlement (cottage, outbuildings and gardens) has been recorded through a combination of field survey and analysis of the OS 2nd edition 25” map (028, 038, 050, & 090). One of these cottages (001) lies on the edge of the Countryside Heritage Site car park, and is essentially complete (though with a modern tin roof) (HER 17529), though two outbuildings shown here on the 1st edition OS map (115-6) do not survive. By contrast there was no visible trace on the ground of a cottage site (087) at the western end of the study area (though the area of the former habitation was covered in dense scrub at the time of the survey). Adjacent to Church Quarry (046) is a former building (045) partly cut into the rock face on the southern side of the hill. The 1st edition OS map suggests an eastern boundary to the settlement (although there was no trace of a boundary feature surviving on the ground). This building may have been a cottage, but may also have been an office building associated with Church Quarry. The 1st edition OS map shows another building here (100), probably an outbuilding associated with 045. There are two further rock-cut shelters here (047 & 048) which may be associated with the building 045 but perhaps more likely belong with the Church Quarry; a pile of building rubble (049) lies at the eastern edge of this area and includes a fireplace mantel; this debris may be stone being worked on site, and the 1st edition OS map does show a crane (102) in this location. On the other hand the debris might possibly represent the site of another building or cottage, though neither the 1st nor 2nd edition OS maps show such a structure here.

Another settlement (050) at the southeastern edge of the study area consists of the remains of a cottage (052), outbuildings(053-4), and garden walls (051, 055-6). The remains of the cottage here stand to a height of up to 2m.

Another settlement site (070) at the southeastern end of the study area is represented by the rock-cut west and north walls and chimney, and remains of a drystone east wall of a cottage, with a brick root store at its northeastern corner. This cottage is not shown as a roofed structure on the 1st edition OS map, although it is included in boundaries shown on the map, and so presumably was in a ruinous and unrecognisable state by 1880.

The remains of a further structure (016) at the southeastern corner of the main former quarry area were recorded by the survey as the remains of stone walls and associated debris. This feature is shown on both the 1st and 2nd edition OS as two end-to-end buildings, though with no associated yard or garden area, and it is possible that these were quarry buildings.

A number of houses lie just beyond the boundary of the study area (and were not included in the survey); many of these appear to have been former quarrymen’s cottages.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 10 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 8.4 Boundary features Most of the boundary features recorded were drystone walls. One (027 & 061) running up the hill from Grinshill village marks the boundary between the Hardwicke estate and the present Countryside Heritage Site, formerly part of the Acton Reynald estate. This boundary lies roughly 17m to the east of the parish boundary Further drystone walls mark the southern (036) and southwestern (076, 077), edges of the study area. Some of these walls (076 & 077) were breached recently (c. 2006- 7) to create access for forestry work on the Cliff Plantation. Some of the former settlements were demarcated by drystone walls which in places survive in poor to fair condition.

A boundary stone (083) was recorded on a corner of the Clive and Grinshill parish boundaries on the southwestern side of the study area. The stone bears a partially legible inscription “(illegible) Esq. 1765”.

8.5 Other features In spite of the presence of the quarry industry on the site, one area was clearly used in the 19th century for recreation. The track (064) leading up the hill from the present Grinshill village hall (formerly Grinshill village Sunday School) has three benches (062, 063, and 065) and some steps (066) cut into the rock on its steeper ascent. The benches give a view over the east Shropshire plain towards the Wrekin – although this view is currently obscured in the summer months by a growth of young silver birch and sycamore trees. Another larger and more obvious set of stone steps (025) are cut into the bedrock in the east side of the Holloway leading out of the southwest corner of the Bridge Quarry. These steps presumably led up to a structure of some sort, though there was no visible trace of such on the ground and one does not appear on the OS mapping.

The site of the Mesolthic flint findspot (089) on the summit at The Cliff was recorded as being in a poor condition due to the erosion of the soil deposits on its southern side. However, flint flakes and artefacts have been found across the summit, and it is likely that much of this site remains intact. There have been other intrusions however: an OS trig point (097) and a toposcope, an aircraft warning light (for RAF Shawbury), and a small reservoir have all been built on the summit. The finding of two Neolithic flint arrowheads (094) a short way to the east of the summit suggests that remains of prehistoric human activity or occupation here may be even more extensive.

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 11 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 9 REFERENCES AND SOURCES CONSULTED Burns, E-K, 1998: A Flint Assemblage from Grinshill, Clive, Shropshire, SCC Archaeology Service report (unpub.) Hannaford, H R, 1999: Two Flint Arrowheads from Grinshill, Shropshire, TSAHS vol LXXIV 1999, p65 Ordnance Survey 1881, 25” map Sheets XXI.15 & XXI.16 (1st edition) Ordnance Survey 1901, 25” map Sheet XXI.15 (2nd edition) Ordnance Survey 1902, 25” map Sheet XXI.16 (2nd edition) Pearce, A, 1995: Mining in Shropshire, Shropshire Books, Shrewsbury, pp22-6 Scard, M A, 1990: The Building Stones of Shropshire, Swan Hill Press, Shrewsbury Thompson, D B,2004: The Grinshill Quarries from their Heyday in Victorian Times until 1923, CGCG Occ. Pub. No. 2 Thompson, D B,2005: The Grinshill Sandstone Quarries in Relation to the Age of Improvement and the Second Period of National Rebuilding 1769 to 1840, CGCG Occ. Pub. No. 3 Toghill, P, 2006: Geology in Shropshire, Swan Hill Press, Shrewsbury

10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer would like to thank Shropshire Council and the Hardwicke Estate, owners of the site, for access, and to Gareth Egarr and Sian Edwards of Shropshire Council’s Outdoor Recreation Team for facilitating the access. Also thanks to Sara Downs, Assistant Archaeologist, Shropshire Council, for her assistance with the field survey and adding these records to the features database.

ABBREVIATIONS CGCG Clive and Grinshill Conservation Group OS Ordnance Survey PRO Public Record Office SA Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury SCC Shropshire County Council SC Shropshire Council HER (Shropshire Council) Historic Environment Record TSAHS Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Historical Society TSAS Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological Society

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 12 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 APPENDIX 1 GAZETTER OF FEATURES

No Type Name Description Date Easting Northing Condition 001 Cottage HER 17529 Cottage adjacent to carpark Post Medieval 352523.64 323798.44 Good 002 Hedge bank Traces of dry stone walling Post Medieval 352539.37 323768.94 Fair 003 Hedge bank Slight hedge bank altered recently to form edge of car park Post Medieval 352523.72 323775.65 Poor 004 Quarry Downes' Quarry Disused quarry Post Medieval 352577.81 323748.26 Good 005 Quarry Cureton's Quarries Disused quarry Post Medieval 352721.21 323671.27 Good 006 Trackway Hollow way probably for formerly taking stone from quarries Post Medieval 352801.77 323690.69 Good 007 Stone wall Bonded in buff mortar possible former building Post Medieval 352797.71 323648.04 Fair 008 Quarry Disused quarry - to edge of former quarry Post Medieval 352849.36 323793.51 Good 009 Trackway Holloway slight Post Medieval 352829.48 323739.85 Good 010 Machine beds The Bridge Quarries 3 stone plinths, iron rails, railway line on end, iron bolts also concrete Post Medieval 352493.80 323821.25 Fair 011 Machine bed The Bridge Quarries Concrete? Stone with bolts Post Medieval 352493.29 323810.64 Fair 012 Machine bed The Bridge Quarries Possible machine bed, no bolts, partly buried. Post Medieval 352490.16 323809.69 Fair 013 Machine bed The Bridge Quarries Stone bed with iron beam Post Medieval 352485.24 323815.21 Fair 014 Machine bed The Bridge Quarries Possible stone machine bed (buried) Post Medieval 352491.10 323817.99 Fair 015 Holloway Holloway down from car park Post Medieval 352480.37 323744.47 Good 016 Building Ruin of building, one corner surviving as stone wall Post Medieval 352406.01 323751.82 Poor 017 Quarry tail The Bridge Quarries Top edge of quarry tail Post Medieval 352357.31 323741.24 Good 018 Quarry tail The Bridge Quarries Quarry tail bottom edge Post Medieval 352360.28 323753.07 Good 019 Cutting The Bridge Quarries Cutting through quarry edge Post Medieval 352367.54 323776.83 Good 020 Wall The Bridge Quarries Dry stone wall along outer edge of cutting Post Medieval 352352.50 323767.77 Poor 021 Quarry tail The Bridge Quarries Bottom edge of quarry tail Post Medieval 352326.24 323765.13 Good 022 Cutting The Bridge Quarries Cutting through quarry edge Post Medieval 352319.50 323799.16 Good 023 Quarry feature The Bridge Quarries Holes in quarry face Post Medieval 352376.15 323862.20 Good 024 Holloway Holloway down from quarry Post Medieval 352243.55 323853.99 Good 025 Steps Flight of stone steps down to hollow way Post Medieval 352238.96 323842.16 Good 026 Quarry face The Bridge Quarries Niches cut in quarry face Post Medieval 352417.88 323859.30 Good 027 Wall Dry stone estate boundary wall on the west side of track. Post Medieval 352154.57 323789.68 Poor 028 Settlement Site of cottage and garden butting west side of boundary wall 027. Post Medieval 352114.58 323694.88 Poor 029 Wall Dry stone wall. Remains of north boundary. Wall of cottage garden Post Medieval 352132.47 323726.63 Poor 030 Cottage Site of cottage. Post Medieval 352109.67 323678.66 Very bad 031 Outbuilding Trace of outbuilding - putlogs in quarry face Post Medieval 352109.19 323660.65 Very bad 032 Quarry Quarry Post Medieval 352139.99 323663.97 Good 033 Wall Dry stone rubble wall on east side of track Post Medieval 352135.12 323697.53 Poor

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 13 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 No Type Name Description Date Easting Northing Condition 034 Track way Paved track running along south edge of old quarries. Post Medieval 352163.59 323736.00 Fair 035 Wall Stub of stone wall at south west end of track Post Medieval 352137.05 323719.99 Fair 036 Wall Dry stone terrace wall on south side of track. Continues wall 033. Post Medieval 352311.81 323683.79 Fair 037 Wall Dry stone terrace wall on north side of track. Post Medieval 352177.30 323743.19 Poor 038 Settlement Mrs Embrey's Cottage Site of cottage and garden area. Post Medieval 352174.88 323762.10 Poor 039 Wall Dry stone garden wall Post Medieval 352171.52 323747.07 Fair 040 Cottage Dry stone and brick rubble with mortar. Post Medieval 352169.84 323747.84 Very bad 041 Outbuilding Rubble spread marking site of outbuilding Post Medieval 352198.75 323766.79 Very bad 042 Wall Dry stone wall marking the east and north boundaries of cottage garden Post Medieval 352199.54 323786.26 Very bad 043 Quarry Quarry face 20-25m from 042 wall Post Medieval 352222.18 323769.29 Good 044 Wall Dry stone wall. Only a few stones visible along the side of the track. Post Medieval 352212.22 323736.73 Poor 045 Cottage Ruins of 2 perhaps 3 cell stone cottage. Partially rock cut. Post Medieval 352232.64 323731.90 Very bad 046 Quarry Church Quarry Quarry Post Medieval 352266.43 323738.18 Good 047 Shelter Shelter cut into quarry face Post Medieval 352251.31 323733.07 Good 048 Shelter Shelter cut into quarry face. Drill holes in quarry face next to shelter. Post Medieval 352266.33 323731.35 Good 049 Cottage debris Cottage ruins including shaped pieces (lintels, mantel) Post Medieval 352285.76 323712.82 Very bad 050 Settlement Site of cottage and garden Post Medieval 352494.15 323656.80 Poor 051 Wall Boundary wall along south west and north sides. Dry stone. Post Medieval 352428.79 323691.70 Poor 052 Cottage Remains of stone cottage. Perhaps 2 cottages. Post Medieval 352446.57 323672.50 Very bad 053 Outbuilding Outbuilding, possible toilet Post Medieval 352454.62 323672.97 Very bad 054 Outbuilding Remains of brick outbuilding, undefinable. Post Medieval 352452.73 323680.55 Very bad 055 Wall Sandstone dry wall running north south from cottage to north boundary wall. Post Medieval 352453.16 323689.23 Very bad 056 Wall Dry stone wall. Boundary on north side of cottage gardens. Post Medieval 352499.06 323670.90 Poor 057 Wall Dry stone wall on north side of track on south boundary of cottage garden. Post Medieval 352536.52 323617.89 Poor 058 Quarry Quarry towards south east of survey area. Post Medieval 352630.76 323630.69 Good 059 Trackway Track way down from quarries to Cronkhill. Post Medieval 352502.75 323683.25 Good 060 Trackway Track way uphill, low rubble stone wall on either side. Not on 2nd edition OS map Post 1914 352171.76 323876.31 Good 061 Wall Dry stone wall. North east estate boundary wall. Post Medieval 352165.87 323864.54 Poor 062 Bench Rock cut bench. Post Medieval 352159.45 323841.57 Good 063 Bench Rock cut bench. Post Medieval 352157.55 323836.43 Fair 064 Trackway Track way downhill followed by Shropshire way, runs past 062 and 063. Post Medieval 352151.96 323800.60 Fair 065 Bench Rock cut bench. Inscription R K 1878. Post Medieval 352155.39 323827.50 Good 066 Steps Rock cut steps. Flight of 8 steps. Post Medieval 352161.34 323836.70 Good 067 Quarry Hollands Quarries former quarry Post Medieval 352051.45 323910.06 Good 068 Quarry Hollands Quarries former quarry Post Medieval 352018.50 323855.20 Good

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 14 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 No Type Name Description Date Easting Northing Condition 069 Quarry face Cureton's Quarries Quarry face, possibly cottage or shelter Post Medieval 352733.83 323665.72 Fair Site of cottage with rock cut chimney, stairs joists. Brick root store in north east 070 Cottage corner. Post Medieval 352739.14 323631.40 Very bad 071 Steps Steps and gate. Flight of 5 steps and gate into woods. Post Medieval 352690.60 323595.99 Good 072 Wall Top of wall visible in path ? 4 m north of 036. Post Medieval 352328.07 323683.26 Poor 073 Holloway Rock cut hollow way carrying path down to Grinshill village. Post Medieval 352134.54 323636.12 Good 074 Quarry face Quarry face Post Medieval 352099.97 323645.15 Good 075 Holloway Rock cut track from Grinshill up to Clive. Post Medieval 352028.42 323591.91 Good 076 Wall Dry stone, sandstone wall on south side of hollow way and track. Post Medieval 351933.79 323584.27 Fair 077 Wall Dry stone wall on north side of track on south boundary of cottage garden. Post Medieval 351934.02 323588.39 Fair 078 Quarry face Cliff Plantation Quarry face above track; 30-50m. Various faces in outcrop above track. Post Medieval 351924.53 323655.19 Good 079 Wall Wall on south side of track. Some mortar bonding. Post Medieval 351771.17 323660.91 Good 080 Wall Wall on north side of track opposite 079. Dry stone. Post Medieval 351770.20 323671.66 Poor 081 Gateway Gateway in wall 079. Iron gate. Post Medieval 351751.82 323705.08 Good 082 Wall Continuation of 079. Post Medieval 351750.74 323739.82 Fair 083 Boundary stone Boundary stone marking a corner in the Clive and Grinshill parish boundary. Post Medieval 351752.05 323768.50 Good 084 Wall Wall on south side of track. Dry stone. Post Medieval 351713.27 323814.43 Poor 085 Steps The Crin Top of rock cut steps leading down cliff face. Post Medieval 351688.14 323974.71 Fair 086 Quarry Quarry Post Medieval 351976.38 323946.51 Good 087 Cottage Site of cottage, on OS 2nd ed, no trace on ground Post Medieval 351656.90 323877.50 Very bad 088 Quarry Cliff Plantation Quarryface Post Medieval 351696.76 323932.60 Good 089 Findspot The Cliff Findspot of mesolithic flints Mesolithic 351925.02 323715.57 Poor 090 Settlement Former quarryman's cottage and garden by car park Post Medieval 352547.14 323780.84 Fair 091 Quarry Former quarry Post Medieval 351995.02 323976.69 Good 092 Quarry The Bridge Quarries Former quarry - main 19th century quarry area Post Medieval 352367.59 323834.90 Good 093 Quarry face Cherry Hollow Quarry Former quarry face Post Medieval 351559.19 323925.81 Good 094 Findspot The Cliff Findspot of two neolithic flint arrowheads Neolithic 352020.51 323785.44 Good 095 Cottage (site of) Site of former cottage Post Medieval 351647.78 323883.31 Uncertain 096 Outbuilding (site of) Site of former outbuilding Post Medieval 351663.05 323886.39 Uncertain 097 Trig point The Cliff OS trig point - present trig point may be a replacement? Post Medieval 351932.15 323722.25 Uncertain 098 Building (site of) Hollands Quarries Site of former quarry building on OS 1st edition map Post Medieval 352049.27 323900.40 Uncertain 099 Spoilheap Hollands Quarries Spoilheap associated with Holland's Quarries shown on OS 1st edition map Post Medieval 352124.96 323909.93 Uncertain 100 Building (site of) Church Quarry Site of building shown on 1st edition OS Post Medieval 352249.65 323725.42 Uncertain 101 Spoilheap Bridge Quarries Spoilheap associated with Bridge Quarries shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352362.56 323714.29 Good 102 Crane (site of) Church Quarry Site of former crane shown on OS 1st edition map Post Medieval 352266.94 323722.25 Uncertain 103 Building (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former building shown on OS 1st edition map Post Medieval 352410.16 323786.80 Uncertain

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 15 Report No. 266 May 2009 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009 No Type Name Description Date Easting Northing Condition 104 Building (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former building shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352421.45 323824.90 Uncertain 105 Building (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former building shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352433.09 323828.79 Uncertain 106 Quarry (site of) Bridge Quarries Old quarry shown on OS 1st edition map destroyed by later quarrying Post Medieval 352455.67 323881.00 Destroyed 107 Crane (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former crane shown on OS 1st edition map Post Medieval 352466.61 323828.79 Destroyed 108 Crane (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former crane shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352494.13 323829.84 Uncertain 109 Crane (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former crane shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352508.59 323821.38 Uncertain 110 Building (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former building shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352480.01 323804.44 Uncertain 111 Building (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former building shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352487.78 323799.15 Uncertain 112 Tramline (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former tramline shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352459.95 323808.58 Uncertain 113 Tramline (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former tramline shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352467.80 323806.72 Uncertain 114 Spoilheap Bridge Quarries Spoilheap associated with Bridge Quarries shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352448.19 323799.02 Uncertain 115 Outbuilding (site of) Site of former outbuilding shown on OS 1st edition map Post Medieval 352528.70 323809.74 Uncertain 116 Outbuilding (site of) Site of former outbuilding shown on OS 1st edition map Post Medieval 352536.46 323803.39 Uncertain 117 Building (site of) Bridge Quarries Site of former workshop building shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352495.23 323815.09 Uncertain 118 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 351690.60 323900.66 Good 119 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 351830.00 323861.42 Good 120 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 351969.09 323829.17 Good 121 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352093.15 323810.48 Good 122 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352070.52 323738.70 Good 123 Track Hollands Quarries Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352104.16 323856.62 Good 124 Track Hollands Quarries Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352078.33 323896.36 Good 125 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352187.46 323846.86 Good 126 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352409.41 323794.56 Good 127 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352501.12 323746.89 Good 128 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352504.39 323681.81 Good 129 Track Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352404.68 323743.46 Good 130 Track Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352201.55 323740.59 Good 131 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352449.02 323664.02 Good 132 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352752.35 323653.09 Good 133 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352759.94 323701.47 Good 134 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352826.04 323727.84 Good 135 Path Path or track shown on OS 2nd edition map Post Medieval 352796.88 323657.32 Good

Archaeology Service, Shropshire Council 16 Report No. 266 May 2009

An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009

Photo 1: One of the quarry faces in the Bridge Photo 2: One of the cuttings (022) through the hill Quarries (092) into the Bridge Quarries

Photo 3: Machine beds (010) above the Bridge Photo 4: One of the smaller quarries (086) to the Quarries NW of the Bridge Quarries

Photo 5: The cottage (001) at the Corbet Wood Photo 6: A ruined cottage (045) by the Church car park Quarry

Corbet Wood and Grinshill 2008-9 An Archaeological Survey of Corbet Wood and Grinshill, Shropshire, 2009

Photo 7: The boundary wall (027) between the Photo 8: A boundary stone (083) on the Grinshill former Acton Reynald and Hardwicke Estates and Clive parish boundary

Photo 9: The holloway (073) running down from Photo 10: Stone steps (025) leading down to the the Bridge Quarries to Grinshill village Holloway (073)

Photo 11: One of the rock-cut seats (062) beside Photo 12: The view point at The Cliffe and the site the track up from Grinshill village of the findspot of Mesolithic flints (089)

Corbet Wood and Grinshill 2008-9