Weaver Hills
Encyclopedia
The Weaver Hills are a small range of hills in north Staffordshire
, England.
The Weaver Hills are about 15 miles (24 km) east of Stoke on Trent and about 5 miles (8 km) west of Ashbourne, Derbyshire
, just south of the A52 road
and north of the Churnet Valley
. The area is often considered to be the most southerly peak of the Pennines
, certainly the southernmost point of that range's carboniferous limestone
rock strata.
The main peak, with an Ordnance Survey
trig point
is 371 metres (1,217.2 ft) above sea level. The southern slopes are rather steep, overlooking the hamlets of Ramsor
and Wootton
, while the north is more gently sloped towards the Staffordshire Moorlands
.
The ten or more tumuli on or around the Weaver Hills, including Cauldon Low (a peak in the same range just to the east) imply significant prehistoric settlements in the area.
About a mile south of the main peak is Wootton Lodge and Wootton Hall, whose claims to fame include that Jean Jacques Rousseau rented the Hall in 1766. He was a refugee from France, where his revolutionary ideas made life difficult for him. However, the peace and tranquility which had so attracted him to the area nearly drove him mad, because he could not leave his fears behind. Arthur Mee says,
Wardlow Quarry is a large quarry situated on the north-east side of the main peak, and just off the A52 main road from Ashbourne
to The Potteries. It is a limestone quarry, owned by Tarmac
, but not being worked (May 2009). The nearby quarries at Cauldon Low are in use for cement production.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England.
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Ashbourne is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales, England. It has a population of 10,302.The town advertises itself as 'The Gateway to Dovedale'.- Local customs :...
, just south of the A52 road
A52 road
The A52 is a major road in the East Midlands, England. It runs east from the junction with the A53 at Newcastle-under-Lyme near Stoke-on-Trent via Ashbourne, Derby, Stapleford, Nottingham, West Bridgford, Bingham, Grantham, Boston and Skegness before terminating on the east Lincolnshire coast at...
and north of the Churnet Valley
River Churnet
The River Churnet is a river that flows in Staffordshire, England. It is a tributary of the River Dove.- Etymology :The origins of the name "Churnet" are unknown, though it is thought to derive from the pre-English, British name for the river.- Course :...
. The area is often considered to be the most southerly peak of the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
, certainly the southernmost point of that range's carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous limestone
Carboniferous Limestone is a term used to describe a variety of different types of limestone occurring widely across Great Britain and Ireland which were deposited during the Dinantian epoch of the Carboniferous period. They were formed between 363 and 325 million years ago...
rock strata.
The main peak, with an Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
trig point
Trig point
A triangulation station, also known as a triangulation pillar, trigonometrical station, trigonometrical point, trig station, trig beacon or trig point, and sometimes informally as a trig, is a fixed surveying station, used in geodetic surveying and other surveying projects in its vicinity...
is 371 metres (1,217.2 ft) above sea level. The southern slopes are rather steep, overlooking the hamlets of Ramsor
Ramsor
The tiny hamlet of Ramsor in North Staffordshire played a significant part in the origins of Primitive Methodism. Listed in the Domesday Book as Ramshorn, this ancient hamlet is a typical example of the depopulation of the countryside. Very little now remains of this village apart from a few...
and Wootton
Wootton, Staffordshire
Wootton is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England.The 17th century house Wootton Lodge is a grade I listed building in the parish....
, while the north is more gently sloped towards the Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. Its council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, is based in Leek and is located between the city of Stoke-on-Trent and the Peak District National Park. The 2001 census recorded the population as...
.
The ten or more tumuli on or around the Weaver Hills, including Cauldon Low (a peak in the same range just to the east) imply significant prehistoric settlements in the area.
About a mile south of the main peak is Wootton Lodge and Wootton Hall, whose claims to fame include that Jean Jacques Rousseau rented the Hall in 1766. He was a refugee from France, where his revolutionary ideas made life difficult for him. However, the peace and tranquility which had so attracted him to the area nearly drove him mad, because he could not leave his fears behind. Arthur Mee says,
Wardlow Quarry
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Ashbourne is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales, England. It has a population of 10,302.The town advertises itself as 'The Gateway to Dovedale'.- Local customs :...
to The Potteries. It is a limestone quarry, owned by Tarmac
Tarmac (company)
Tarmac is a company that is based in Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom and operates internationally. The company produces aggregates and road-surfacing materials, including tarmacadam, from which the company's name is derived...
, but not being worked (May 2009). The nearby quarries at Cauldon Low are in use for cement production.