Beech Caves - Staffordshire

History   

“Close to the A34 near a small Staffordshire village resides a disused stone mine often referred to as 'beech caves', the mine was built using the pillar and stall method and workings here can be dated back to as far as 1633. Other documents have been recovered which suggest that New Trentham Hall was constructed from this very red sandstone also in 1633. Stone was still being worked from the area through till the early 1900's, During the first world war the site was “out of bounds” and guarded by the military presence which has led to speculations that the army was using it to store ordnance. Some people claim that it was the ordnance factory at nearby Swynnerton that used it for storing ammunition, while others are of the belief that it was used by the American base at Trentham, however there does not seem to be any official records to support these claims. Today it's a popular spot for locals and non locals alike who travel down to photograph/document the place”.