Barrow Hill Local Nature Reserve
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| Barrow Hill | |
|---|---|
 View from the top of Barrow Hill | |
 Interactive map of Barrow Hill | |
| Type | Local Nature Reserve |
| Location | Pensnett, West Midlands, England |
| Coordinates | 52°30′22″N 2°07′34″W / 52.506°N 2.126°W |
| Area | 27.58 acres |
| Created | 2005 |
| Operated by | Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council |
Barrow Hill Local Nature Reserve is a local nature reserve situated in Pensnett in the county of West Midlands, England. Its most distinctive feature, Barrow Hill, is the eroded remnant of a high level igneous intrusion that was formed 315 million years ago during the Carboniferous period.[1] The reserve was created in 2005.
Barrow Hill is the only proven example of surface volcanic activity in the Black Country area. The earliest evidence of human presence at the area were two burial chambers (known as barrows) that were found on the northern side of Barrow Hill. These burial chambers are believed to date back to the Bronze Age of around 2000BC to 700BC.[2]
The area was once woodland inside Pensnett Chase, which was mainly common land under the lordship of the Barons of Dudley. The hard volcanic rock (dolerite) that forms Barrow Hill was quarried in the 19th century for use as road stone.[3] Another reminder of the industrial age in the reserve is a footpath that follows the course of one of the Earl of Dudley's private railways.[4] The reserve was created in 2005.[5]
Location
The reserve is located at Pensnett, near to St Marks Church and Russells Hall Hospital. Access is via Vicarage Lane, Pensnett.[3]