Perkins Beach, Shropshire
"Beach" is from an old English word meaning a pebbly river, or stream
valley - nowhere near the sea.
About the
area
The
Stiperstones Shuttle bus runs weekends and bank holidays during the
summer until late October. Its audio commentary on the surrounding countryside is
:-
available from here
also locally stored
AUDIO here
and TEXT here
An article on the Stiperstones and whinberries by
Hilary
Macaskill
printed in the Independent
on 1 Sep 2002.
For some idea of life in Perkins Beach in the 19th century - from the Shropshire
Archaeology Service The Stiperstones Hills Archaeological Survey
And the 2008 Guided walks with the Archaeology Service
The walks last around 1½ - 2 hours. The cost of the walks is £3 per walk, payable on the day.
PAGE NO LONGER AVAILABLE Jun 2017
TRY HERE MOSTLY UNGUIDED
http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/walking/search/?keywords=stiperstones
http://www.shropshiresgreatoutdoors.co.uk/walking/search/?keywords=mines&search=Search&nearest=&distance=
http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/enjoying-the-shropshire-hills/walking/
Weds 4th June 7.30pm PERKINS BEACH A walk around an abandoned
post-medieval mining settlement. (This walk has steep climbs and some
rough ground.) Meet at: the Stiperstones Inn, OS map ref SJ 362 004.
Walks near to Perkins Beachor HERE if link broken
We
missed it!
The Mines
Perkins Beach Mine
The site was worked in a series of shafts and adits from the 1850s to
1897. Small scale production. Two areas of extraction are indicated:
the smaller centred around SO 663 997, the larger centred around SO 369
999. It seems likely that these two areas were at one stage under
separate ownerships. Production 1889-1912, 9180 tons of barytes.
New Venture Mine
A dispersed linear group of workings running SW-NE. Old Shafts (Lead),
Levels/Old Levels and spoil heaps - from SO 3663 9981 to SJ 3713 0025.
These workings are noted as Shafts (dis). One of the spoil heaps is
noted as Tip (dis), the others are depicted as earthworks. These
workings are known as New Venture Mine, in operation during the mid
19th century. The remains of mine buildings (types not specified),
together adits and shafts are noted. Perkins Beach Mine (1310) lies
immediately to the SW of these workings.
This is probably where the Perkins worked. As the Perkins Beach Mine
didn't open until the 1850s and Thomas died in 1850 he probably worked
in the New Venture Mine. The Perkins Beach Mine seems to be about 100
yard uphill from the Wilderness (No 17 Perkins Beach) and the New
Venture Mine about another 100 yards beyond that. We walked past here
up to the top and
I never noticed any traces of the old mines.
http://www.shropshiremines.org.uk/
Living on
Perkins Beach
The 1871 census numbers 30 homes on Perkins Beach. In the
1891 and 1901 census the homes were merely listed, not numbered, but
the number of inhabited rooms was given. Elizabeth, widow of Thomas
Perkin is living at number 22 with her son George in the 1871 census.
Stay by the night at the Old Chapel, 4 Perkins Beach check it out here
or the week at The Wilderness, 17 Perkins Beach see here 'jasminecottages.co.uk'
and here 'mycottageholiday.co.uk'
or even better 'sykescottages.co.uk'
On sale SOLD 10 Perkins Beach, where Ronald Thomas Nolan stayed in the
1930s. Not that he'd have recognised it now:-
6th Jan 2009 £275,000
30th Sep 2008 £295,000
24th Jul 2003 £175,000
14th Aug 1998 £65,000
Previously listed on Rightmove on January 2009
Perkins Beach Present Residents
No 3 The National Small Woods Association
No 4 The above mentioned Old Chapel B + B
No 9 Dr Heather Strange
No 11 Richard Priest Consulting and Tory councillor
Hat@pastechoes.co.uk
©