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(Thanks to Vicky for telling me about these, and more, sites in Cheshire, see her photos in the Megalithic Portal eGallery at Megalithic Portal) Take the B5087 from Alderley Edge to Macclesfield for about 2 miles to a National Trust carpark on the left. (This has a height barrier but the lane just before on the right has laybys) This site has bronze age copper and lead mines, a possible standing stone, tumulus and 19th century “druid’s circle” and is a pleasant stroll in the trees. Engine
Vein From the carpark head to the café and small visitor centre where some information on the mines is available. Follow the lane NE and you will come to the fenced in mine.
The rock here is sandstone conglomerate and large amounts of minerals have been mined over the centuries. Mining for bronze and lead started here 4000 years ago and stone tools have been found. Charcoal has been dated to 1700BC. The site is fenced but someone told me you can get permission to go down the mine from the Derbyshire Caving Club, who now manage it and details are on their website at www.DerbyshireCavingClub.org.uk |
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Golden
Stone Carry on for about 300m along the lane to where a track turns SE to a farm and the stone will be seen beside it near the junction. This marked the old parish boundary and it is believed to have originally been a prehistoric standing stone but it does look unlikely.
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“Druid’s
Circle” From the stone take the footpath through the gate that heads NW uphill with horseshoe signs on wooden posts. Carry on uphill and ignore the left fork that goes downhill. It is only a couple of hundred metres. When you come to a fenced in mine working go past a disabled sign and just beyond turn right at the next horseshoe sign. Don’t follow the well-walked path. Head approx. NW on the track and you will come to the circle beside another path.
This is believed to have been constructed in the 19th century by the Stanley family who owned the land. The path winds on to the west to the Armada Beacon that is built on a tumulus and the other way heads to Stormy Point, a sandstone outcrop and pleasant viewpoint.
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Nov 01 |
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