Archaeology Leaflet

cut using simple tools by prehistoric Mountain in Anglesey. In 1804 James miners can be seen on the surface. Ashton built a sail driven mill – a unique although ultimately unsuccessful use of wind power to crush lead ore. The foundations of this structure still remain in 'Windmill Wood'. In the mid-nineteenth century the Alderley Edge Mining Company leached copper from the Archaeology at relatively low-grade ore, and as a by- product produced huge amounts of sand Alderley Edge steeped in hydrochloric acid. This was dumped in an area that became known as Mining 'The Sandhills' until much of it was sold in Alderley Edge is a striking escarpment of the 1960s for use in the construction sandstone rising 150m above the industry. Cheshire Plain, 15 miles south of Quarrying Manchester. There has been mining activity here for over 4000 years, from Alderley Edge was also an important Neolithic times right through to the early Above: a prehistoric stone hammer source of building stone. For centuries 20th Century. As a result, parts of the similar to those found at Alderley Edge these workings provided hand-cut Edge have been Scheduled as Ancient sandstone building blocks for local Monuments and given special protection. churches, homes and farms. The 'Great In addition Alderley Edge also has a Quarry' is known to have been worked Alderley Edge is one of a handful of Roman mineshaft, believed to date from from 1598. The diagonal marks or prehistoric mining sites in Britain. It is the the first century AD. A pot of Roman coins chevrons made by hand-held picks can be oldest known metal-mining site in England was found in a back filled shaft that dates seen on many of the stone faces within – activity began as early as 1900 BC. from the fourth century AD. the quarries Copper and tin together make bronze thus Mining continued here through the Bronze Age people were keen to exploit medieval period – miners from this time The Beacon any copper resources they could find. were responsible for some of the Various prehistoric tools such as stone Beacons were built in chains up and down shallower hand picked workings seen on hammers and mauls have been found. In the country to act as alarm systems in the Edge and set up smelters in several 1993 an oak shovel was discovered and case the country was invaded. They were vicinities. carbon dated to around 1750 BC. placed on elevated positions to make In 1758 Charles Roe of the 'Macclesfield them easily visible for miles around. The The best concentration of prehistoric Copper Company' was granted a lease to Armada Beacon here at Alderley Edge mining features is to be found at Engine mine in the area until he left in 1771 for was part of one of these warning systems. Vein. Here the remains of shallow shafts the richer copper deposits of Parys The Golden Stone THE NATIONAL TRUST In medieval times boundary markers It is the National Trust's aim at Alderley known as merestones were used. These Edge to protect all known archaeology were often very large earthfast or glacial and to improve the understanding of the boulders that were too heavy for one or archaeological deposits here. We wish to two people to move secretly. The Golden combine specialist advice with the skills of Stone was used as a boundary marker for land management and so create the best the late medieval estates of the Stanley possible environment for the preservation and De Trafford families. of archaeological sites. The Derbyshire Caving Club maintain the mines under the Edge and hold open weekends twice a year where members of the public can join underground tours to experience the mines firsthand. More information can be found on: Left: the stone built beacon as it www.derbysCC.org.uk looked prior to 1931 when it was The Manchester Museum and the blown down in a gale National Trust set up the Alderley Edge Landscape Project (AELPHER) in 1996. It is a multidisciplinary research project It was built on top of a Bronze Age 'bowl Above: the Golden Stone combining archaeology, geology, history, barrow' or burial mound - and is the literature and botany. More information highest point of the Edge. During the time can be found on their website: of the Spanish Armada and undoubtedly It also lies on the ancient boundary www.alderleyedge.man.ac.uk hundreds of years before this time, the between the Over Alderley and Nether For more information contact us at: Edge was devoid of trees, being Alderley parishes. The stone has been predominantly heathland, making it a quarried locally and is formed from Engine The Cheshire Countryside Office perfect vantage point. It is said that in Vein conglomerate. It is of great local Macclesfield Road 1588 it took 12 hours for the news that the importance due to the folklore attached to Nether Alderley Spanish Armada had been sighted to it and is one of the earliest marked Macclesfield travel from the coast all the way to York. features on the Edge. Unfortunately the stone building that SK10 4UB housed the beacon's fire basket was – blown down in a gale in 1931. A memorial Tel: 01625584412 stone has now been erected on the summit. Registered charity no. 205846 .

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