Roger the Cat
16 years ago
Does anybody know anything about the history and location of stone mines and quarries around the Stroud area of Gloucestershire?

A local artist I know has mentioned that there were extensive networks of tunnels under Minchinhampton and Rodborough commons, the Rockness area near Nailsworth and Balls Green in the Avening Valley. I am not able to find anything on the internet which is very informative about these and most of the entrances mentioned are stated to be on private property and are considered dangerous.

I live above an old quarry at Chalford just outside Stroud which must be nearly 200 years old or more as the house built on the floor of the quarry below must date from the 1830's if not earlier. As in a number of cases in Chalford, there appears to be a heading in the rock face which in this case is used by the current owner as a garden store. It would be intriguing to find out if it leads anywhere. The Thames & Severn Canal which runs parallel to the river Frome below us was constructed in the late 18th Century and it is reasonable to suppose that construction materials were excavated locally. As in the Cotswolds generally, most properties in this area constructed before around 1850 or even later, are built of stone which must have come from somewhere!

Disclaimer: Mine exploring can be quite dangerous, but then again it can be alright, it all depends on the weather. Please read the proper disclaimer.
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