Quarry Park and Dingle Gardens, Shrewsbury, England

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

Extensive area of riverside common land laid out with tree-lined walks in 1719 and with gardens, bandstand and other features dating back to the late 19th century and later.

LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING

The Quarry now lies within the built-up area of Shrewsbury town, on the west (inward) side of the loop in the River Severn which anciently contained the town. When created, in the early 18th century, The Quarry was bounded to the east by the town walls. Those were removed (and the top walk of lime trees felled) around 1790 when the new St Chad's church was constructed and a new road (Town Walls) laid out taking heavy traffic away from the town centre. That road and buildings along it now form the eastern limit of The Quarry. The Quarry falls from east to west, and good views over it are obtained from a balustraded terrace of 1906 (listed grade II) south of St Chad's. The Dingle, near its centre, is visible only as stand of trees; its sunken interior is invisible until its perimeter is reached. From the west The Quarry is overlooked by the high ground of Kingsland, especially from the grounds of Shrewsbury School which lie opposite. The Quarry extends to 9 hectares.

REFERENCES Used by English Heritage

J W Heath, The Quarry. Its History Since 1494 and a List of Plants for 1935 (1935)

P A Stamper, The Quarry (unpublished study 1996)

P A Stamper, Historic Parks and Gardens of Shropshire (1996), pp 31-2, 36-9

The Quarry Management Plan, (Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council 1997)

The Victoria History of the County of Shropshire: Shrewsbury (forthcoming)

Maps

J Rocque, Plan of Shrewsbury, 1746

OS 6" to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1880-1, published 1890-1

OS 25" to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1881, published 1882; 2nd edition surveyed 1900, published 1902

Illustrations

Photos and drawings of The Quarry are held at the Shropshire Records and Research Centre.