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Hednesford Hills Raceway, Staffordshire added to Parks and Recreation in West Midlands by D0c.Col on 22/04/2023

The Scott House Reservoir was built in 1879 to hold water from nearby pumping stations but was abandoned in 1925 due to subsidence from local mining. The circuit was built inside the dis-used reservoir in 1952 utilizing the site of a former reservoir, before opening for the first time in 1954 but closed down a year later. The defunct Hednesford circuit was aquired by Bill Morris who ran a handful of practice meetings' in 1962. The circuit was fully re-opened in April 1963 and from that point onwards the promotion of Stock Car and Hot Rod racing has been uninterrupted at the popular Staffordshire speed-bowl for over half a century. The shale oval was eventually resurfaced with asphalt in 1966, enabling lap times to fall drastically and track records to tumble. It is said that four times World Hot Rod champion Carl Boardley got the quarter mile down to almost 12 seconds in unofficial practice, making Hednesford Europe's fastest quarter-mile oval.

The circuit has been featured on BBC's Top Gear programme in the past, in a feature on banger racing. In addition, a number of satellite TV channels feature both banger and stock car races from the circuit and the 100th edition of Tiswas was broadcast live from Hednesford Raceway back in the Seventies.

It was the first time I had visited the site for the best part of 40 years and I recalled having had some great times working at the race track in the early 80s as a member of the track crew.

PARKING & TOAL

Coming off the A460 from Rugeley I followed the signs for Beaudesert Golf Course at the traffic lights and headed up the hill on Rawnsley Rd. Ignoring the turn off left for the Golf Course I carried on until I reached House No 179 (or thereabouts) on the righthand side of the road. There is a gap between the houses with a trail that leads steeply up to the Raceway. I parked in the gap but you can park on the side of the road further up where there aren't any double yellow lines.

My TOAL was right outside the Raceway Gates so would be amazed if I was impinging on the SSSi (I doubt the local inhabitants, 4 legged or 2, would be worried about a small drone when they have to contend with armageddon every other weekend)!

The flight was not in a FRZ and Cannock Council do not have a bylaw or policy against drones. There is an SSSi but see my comment above!

View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.70749, -1.980279 • what3words: ///town.solved.rivers

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 20/04/2023. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.

Where to fly your drone

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Magheramorne Cement Works (By Soupc)

Very wide open area.
Parking very close.
Derelict cement factory + Quarry + Lake.
Nearby a train station - will get passer by's.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.81624, -5.766449 • what3words: ///stencil.figs.confusion

Newdigate Park, Mole Valley (By grandad1950)

A lovely cricket ground in Newdigate Surrey. Lots of room to fly.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.16766, -0.292211 • what3words: ///hung.gives.maybe

Hilden Mill (By Soupc)

Derelict linen factory, over grown and a glorified birds nest.
Surrounded by a metal fence.
Easy parking.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.51986, -6.023072 • what3words: ///soils.drip.cargo

Stokesay Castle, South Shropshire (By D0c.Col)

Stokesay Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval manor houses in England, with a fascinating history that blends elements of fortified architecture and domestic comfort. Here's a rundown of its story:
Laurence of Ludlow, one of the richest men in England thanks to the wool trade, started building Stokesay around 1281. He acquired a license to fortify the house in 1291, as a sign of wealth and prestige rather than a real need for defence. The castle’s layout, with it’s central great hall, flanking towers, and a moat, demonstrated a blend of domestic luxury and symbolic strength. Laurence died in a shipwreck off the coast of Ireland in 1294, leaving his project largely complete.
The 14th Century was a period of Prosperity and Consolidation for the family, who retained their ownership of Stokesay, and the castle remained a comfortable rural retreat. The estate benefitted from the ongoing wool trade, which continued to fund both improvements and the maintenance of the property. Although there were no major architectural changes made, the property stayed in active use, with the great hall still at the centre of domestic life.
The 15th Century was largely dominated by the Wars of the Roses where supporters of the Houses of Lancaster and York battled each other to gain control of the English throne. By 1471, it had resulted in the end of the Lancastrian male line, and the subsequent creation of the Tudor dynasty via the union of the two houses through marriage. However, throughout the civil war, Stokesay stayed relatively untouched due to its remote location and lack of military value.
It was during this period Stokesay Castle’s Ownership transitioned by marriage to the Vernon family, a well-established gentry who made the castle their home. There were some subsequent additions made to the property, but mostly minor such as improved fireplaces and windows, reflecting changes in domestic living standards of the time.
The 16th Century and the Tudor period brought peace and prosperity, for the Vernons and they continued to occupy and enjoy the castle. Further modifications in line with the time such as interior panelling, updated furnishings, and subtle architectural tweaks were added for comfort, and as a private residence, it retained its medieval character while adapting to Renaissance tastes.
In the 17th Century Stokesay had passed onto William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven, who was a courtier and soldier from London. One of the wealthiest peers in England he was a keen supporter of King Charles I, and therefore it was no surprise that he took the side of the Royalists during the English Civil War. In 1645, the castle was garrisoned by Royalists but surrendered without bloodshed to the Parliamentarians. As was the way during this turbulent period of English history, Parliament ordered its fortifications dismantled, but since it wasn’t truly defensive, only light damage occurred. It was around this time when the timber-framed gatehouse, built around 1640, some 2 years before the war had started, remained unscathed and is now a signature feature of the property.
During the 18th Century the castle began to fall into disrepair as it was no longer used as a main residence. Romantic ruin culture took hold, where visitors saw it as a relic of a lost age. There was no major restoration undertaken at this time, but its picturesque decay continued to draw the attention of antiquarians and artists.
In 1869, John Derby Allcroft, a Victorian philanthropist, and a wealthy glove manufacturer purchased Stokesay Castle and initiated its restoration, sensitively repairing the structure while preserving its medieval elements.

The castle survived both World Wars without damage as Allcroft's descendants continued to own the castle, opening it to the public and dedicating funds from admissions towards upkeep. However, due to the increasing cost of maintenance, Jewell Magnus-Allcroft, the last Allcroft family member to own the castle, entered an agreement with English Heritage in 1986. English Heritage assumed responsibility for the castle's preservation during her lifetime and inherited ownership upon her death in 1992.

Today it continues to be a popular historic site, with visitor-friendly interpretation and events with the emphasis of preservation, digital archiving, and community engagement. Stokesay Castle is a rare example of a medieval building that has never been significantly altered or rebuilt, making it invaluable for historians and tourists alike.

I TOAL from the English Heritage carpark, which on the date of visit cost £3.50. The carpark is very close to the castle and VLOS is easily maintained, however, as English Heritage has a 'no drones' policy I wouldn't advise this approach. Instead TOAL close to the entrance to the Church where I believe the road is open to the public.

There is a cafe and toilets on their carpark so comfort breaks are well taken care of!

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.43027, -2.831084 • what3words: ///slave.deodorant.smuggled

Barden Tower, Skipton, Craven (By markas)

The tower was used as a hunting lodge in the 15th and 16th centuries, and despite a renovation in the 1650s, it fell into disrepair in the 18th century. The tower is now part of the Bolton Estate and is listed as a medieval fortified tower.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.01074, -1.923906 • what3words: ///legal.lofts.yesterday

Rusper Park, Horsham (By grandad1950)

A lot of space to fly at Rusper Park with good views of the village and the surrounding countryside

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.1241, -0.280677 • what3words: ///disputes.lawyer.compress

Kylesku Bridge, Lairg (By AlbionDrones)

The iconic Kylesku Bridge on the NC500, remote and isolated, but so worth the effort to visit.

There is a free car park at either side of the bridge, allowing a safe place to stop, soak up the view and a good TOAL spot with great VLOS - although you are on the edge of EGR610 RAF Operational Low Flying Zone, so do check out the RAF Low Fly timetable - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable - before flying, and if in doubt ring the RAF Low Flying hotline - 01489443100

The bridge itself is an imposing concrete edifice, but the scenery is what makes the location amazing, the rapid tidal flow beneath the bridge, and the contrast between the brutal concrete and the mist-softened mountains is something quite amazing to see.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 58.25721, -5.023556 • what3words: ///crop.stubbed.pocketed

Cudworth Manor, Mole Valley (By grandad1950)

Cudworth Manor is a moated privately owned historic manor house in Newdigate Surrey.

Not a lot of space to park

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.16286, -0.268934 • what3words: ///wisely.shrimp.tender

Capel Village Green, Mole Valley (By grandad1950)

A quiet village green in Capel Surrey. Nice pond and a good spot to chill out

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.15038, -0.3216 • what3words: ///area.rooms.march

Pevensey Castle, Wealden (By grandad1950)

Dating from AD 290 it was the largest Roman Saxon fortresses in England.

TOAL restricted on the English Heritage site so best done from the car park.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.81924, 0.333981 • what3words: ///tulip.called.glance


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