Monuments & Landscape Under Threat
The proposed Haughmond Farm quarry would be on open hillside bordered by 3 scheduled monuments: a Grade II-listed barn at its southern end, Haughmond Abbey to the West, and, a few metres from its top northernmost point, the ancient Hillfort on the summit of Ebury Hill.
Ancient rights of way link these features across what was once common land, leading to a 2nd scheduled Hillfort to the South on Haughmond Hill.
Ebury Hillfort represents an irreplaceable link to Shropshire’s Iron Age past. To drop a heavy industrial quarrying operation right next to this national treasure is visual and environmental vandalism. We are building our digital defence network right now so that Shropshire Council hears our community loud and clear the moment the plans drop.
Haughmond Abbey
Haughmond Abbey is a medieval, Augustinian monastery a few miles from Shrewsbury, England.
An atmospheric site steeped in history, it was probably founded in the early 12th century and was closely associated with the FitzAlan family, who became Earls of Arundel.
It was a substantial, successful and wealthy house for most of its four centuries. The buildings fell into disrepair and the church was largely destroyed, although the remains of some of the domestic buildings remain impressive.
Shropshire Way
Undisturbed since the 19th century, the Shropshire Way passes directly through the historic area of Haughmond Hill and Haughmond Abbey just east of Shrewsbury, forming a key junction between its northern and southern loops.
If the quarry extension goes ahead,
SHROPSHIRE WAY will be UPROOTED and RE-ROUTED!
Ebury Hillfort
Ebury Hillfort represents an irreplaceable link to Shropshire’s Iron Age past. To drop a heavy industrial quarrying operation right next to this national treasure is visual and environmental vandalism.
The site of the proposed quarry would physically remove a large piece of our heritage landscape.
The official list entry for Ebury Hillfort states:
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance.
The importance of this hillfort is further enhanced by its location to the nearby and broadly contemporary, hillfort on Haughmond Hill. Turning what was historically common land into an inaccessible lunar landscape and blasting rock week in week out, for years and years would have a serious significant effect on the setting of the heritage asset that is Ebury Hill.
Together with Haughmond Abbey and Ebury Hill, The Shropshire Way completes this stunning heritage landscape….all of which would be lost.