Weaver Hills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weaver Hills |
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Weaver Hills from the west
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 Location in Staffordshire
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| Location | England |
| OS grid | SK085470 |
| Coordinates | 53°00′53″N 1°51′37″W / 53.0148°N 1.8603°W |
The Weaver Hills are a group of small hills in the north-east part of Staffordshire, England. They are located about 15 miles (24 km) east of Stoke-on-Trent and 5 miles (8 km) west of Ashbourne, Derbyshire. You can find them just south of the A52 road and north of the Churnet Valley.
These hills are often seen as the most southern main hills of the Pennines, which is a famous range of mountains and hills in northern England. The rocks here are mostly Carboniferous Limestone, a type of rock formed from the remains of sea creatures long ago. Even though the Weaver Hills are not inside the official National Park, they are geologically part of the White Peak area within the wider Peak District.
The highest point is called The Walk. It has an Ordnance Survey trig point, which is a special marker used by mapmakers to measure heights. This peak stands 371 meters (1,217 ft) above sea level. The southern sides of the hills are quite steep, looking down towards small villages like Ramsor and Wootton. The northern sides are much gentler, sloping towards the Staffordshire Moorlands area.
Archaeologists have found more than ten tumuli (ancient burial mounds) on or around the Weaver Hills, including near Cauldon Low, which is another peak nearby. These mounds suggest that people lived in this area a very long time ago, even before recorded history.
About a mile south of the main peak, you'll find Wootton Lodge and Wootton Hall. A famous person named Jean-Jacques Rousseau rented Wootton Hall in 1766. He was a writer and philosopher who had to leave France because of his revolutionary ideas. He hoped to find peace in the quiet English countryside. However, even in this calm place, he struggled with his fears and suspicions.
Wardlow Quarry: A Limestone Site
Wardlow Quarry is a large quarry located on the north-east side of the main peak of the Weaver Hills. It's just off the A52 road, which connects Ashbourne to The Potteries.
This quarry is a place where limestone is dug out of the ground. It is owned by a company called Tarmac Limited. As of May 2009, the quarry was not actively being worked. However, other quarries nearby, especially at Cauldon Low, are still used to produce materials for cement.
