Clee Hills Project, Shropshire
University of Birmingham, Ironbridge Institute, 2009. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000028. How to cite using this DOI
Data copyright © University of Birmingham unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Dr
Roger
White
Academic Director
Ironbridge International Institute for Cultural Heritage
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK
Tel: 0121 414 5493
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 900
- ALSF Project Number: 3844
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000028
- How to cite using this DOI
Overview
The survey, carried out by Ironbridge Institute in conjunction with Birmingham Archaeology between 2005-7, identified the remains of two main periods of activity on the hill: prehistoric and medieval to modern. In the first period, evidence was limited to a prominent hillfort on Titterstone Clee, one of the largest in the county and to burial or clearance cairns identified in a number of locations on the Clee Hills. The evidence for the later phase of use consists of a number of activities, primarily industrial. From probably the 13th century on, coal seems to have been extracted from the hills in form of Bell pits and shallow scours or adits. The peak of this activity was in the 16th-18th century when the majority of the Bell- or Basset-pits seem to have been excavated on Catherton Common to the east of Clee Hill. At the same time, ironstone, limestone and clay were being exploited, the clay for brick-making and clay-pipe production, the ironstone and limestone being exported for use in furnaces in Shropshire, Herefordshire and Staffordshire. This activity supported the growth of squatter communities on the common lands many of which are still in occupation.
The 19th century saw an explosion of industrial activity on the hill but a narrowing of the range of activity to coal mining using shafts cut through the Dolerite cap of the hill, and quarrying of the Dolerite ('Dhustone') itself initially as railways ballast (from the 1860s) and then, in the 20th century for roadstone, concrete aggregate production and sett-making. The quarrying in particular has led to creation of spectacular and well-preserved quarries and their buildings, the latter built in concrete from a relatively early date (c. 1913). In addition, the transport infrastructure associated with the quarries and mines remains largely intact, as does the social housing provided for the workforce. As an ensemble there are few places in Britain that give a more comprehensive overview of quarrying practice as so much remains in place. The working quarry on the hill provides a direct link too with these remains since although the location of the quarry has changed, the practices remains largely the same. The evidence for the coal mining is less spectacular perhaps but is valuable because of the range of activity at a number of scales, its completeness and the way that research by the project has been able to link the documentary sources with the field remains. (The extensive list of available archives on the Clee Hills is, for the first time, drawn together in the report.)
The Digital Archive
The digital archive is an integral part of the reporting process and comprises all files generated in electronic format generated during the course of the project, and for which permissions have been granted for deposit.
Documents
The archive contains the following reports:
- Barratt,G., Marriott,J., Reid,M. and White,R. 2007. A Conservation Plan for the Historic Mining and Quarrying Landscape of the Clee Hills, South Shropshire. University of Birmingham Unpublished Report for English Heritage.
Due to the large volume of material, this report is sub-divided into two volumes as follows:
- Volume 1: topography, geology, chronological summary of the main archaeological and historical features, statements of significance, management recommendations and proposals for further archaeological work. The appendices contain summaries of documentary sources, ecological data, summary information on designation and policy, structural surveys of selected quarry buildings, the visitor centre proposals and a list of consultees to this Conservation Plan.
- Volume 2: gazetteer of sites. The gazetteer contains specific recommendations for the conservation and management of individual features and these have been retained although they are summarised in Volume 1.
Project GIS
The archive contains a number of shapefiles created over the course of the project in the construction of a GIS.
Non-digital Archive and Publications
In addition to the reports and data contained within the digital archive the project also produced the following outputs:
| Guided Tours |
|---|
| A series of guided walks over the course of Summer 2006. |
| Other |
| 'Celebrating the Clee Hills' Event: 28/03/2006 at Cleehill Primary School (part of the ALSF-funded Blue Remembered Hills initiative). The event featured a variety of displays and workshops derived from/including the results of the ALSF survey. For more details see p.62 of Volume 1 of the final report. |
| Results from the project - including the conservation plan and several information booklets - can also be found on the Titterston Clee Heritage Trust website: http://www.thecleehilltrust.co.uk/ |
