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| 21 October 2007
The engineer John Gilbert is thought to be responsible for the construction of the Caldon Low Tramway in 1758. It leaves the Churnet valley at Froghall and rises 700 ft to the Caldon Low quarries. The present route was the work of the North Staffordshire Railway in 1849 after realignment of the previous less successful attempts. The result is 4 miles of inclined planes, cuttings and embankments down to Froghall Wharf. Here the limestone was loaded onto waiting barges and railway wagons for transportation to the Potteries and the national railway network, for use in the construction industry. Limestone was also burnt in the bank of kilns above the wharf, and processed into quicklime for agricultural use. It is estimated that the 1849 work resulted in increased production to 1,000 tons of limestone per day from the quarry and three locomotives, Frog, Toad and Bobs replaced horses at the wharf; production continued until 1920 when the wharf was closed. In the mid 19th century this area must have been a hive of activity; a walk up the trail gives just an inkling since many of the scars of this industrial past have been disguised by nature. The scars in the surrounding woods bear witness to the main activity of ironstone mining in the 18th century, which at its peak employed 1500 men with iron bars being transported from Froghall to the iron works in Oakamoor, now a park and picnic site. In addition the coming of the railway in 1849 enhanced the valley's industrial activity. There was a water driven hammer mill and forge at Consall Forge, with later addition of a flint mill - converted now to housing. There is a pair of restored flint mills at Cheddleton - well worth a visit, and a copper works in Froghall itself. The Duke of Devonshire had a copper smelter in Whiston on the hill just above the valley. This took the copper ore from the extensive mines at Ecton in the Manifold valley and a number of nearby houses are built from slag blocks from the smelter; they make an unusual sight being an iridescent black in colour. All this gives plenty of scope as objectives for club rides with an historical interest. Our ride on 14th October took us to the
Strawberry Garden Centre at Bramshall for mid-morning break before the
road past the new JCB site and the old A50 to Beamhurst turning into the
delightful if tough lane to Hollington. The views along the ridge would
have been extensive, shane about all the mist, before the drop to Winothdale
followed by the steady climb to Freehay and the viewing platform for the
huge Tarmac sand quarry, some of which has been turned into a nature reserve.
The platform is what remains of the old road, the rest long since gone
and replaced by a new one to the west of the quarry.nd the 'blue' arrow
suggested we go that way. Sorry chaps I should have check
From the picnic site the
'Blue' waymarkers are followed to gain the incline. A large rock outcrop,
Harston Rock is passed on the right and then a narrow embankment crosses
a side valley before the track levels out. A narrow muddy section took
us to a stile aed the map! Our access to the A52 was via humping the bikes
over said stile, two rather wet fields and a muddy gateway. We should have
carried straight on for a few hundred metres to hit the same road.
Now on firmer ground a turn off the main road
led to a further site of the tramway through a deep cutting at Upper Cotton.
Cotton College used to be a hive of activity being a Roman Catholic Seminary
with sports fields, gymnasium, church and attractive buildings it is now
a rather sad and derelict site. The road beyond is a joy, particularly
at autumn time, passing through an avenue of trees with views across the
attractive valley on the way to the Star crossroad and Ramshorn. It is
now a glorious, mostly, freewheel off the Weavers down to Ellastone before
crossing the Dove back into Derbyshire.
Our route home is 'well worn' through Marston Montgomery and Boylestone, crossing the Dove once more at another Marston into the 'Creative County' and our separate ways home. A dull, damp but interesting day awheel and I think we all enjoyed it! Terry Williams
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