Bus Shelter in New Works village

Image: © TCExplorer Taken: 19 Jul 2023

Adjacent is an info board about the village: "The hamlet of New Works lies in the north-east corner of the ancient parish of Little Wenlock that extended from the foot of the Wrekin almost to the banks of the River Severn. As its name implies, this was the new area of mining developed by the Darbys in the 18th century to supply coal and iron ore to their furnace at Coalbrookdale. But in the area to the north of the hamlet and to the west of New Works are the remains of small bell-pits and evidence of working going back at least 500 years; and this area has been scheduled as an Ancient Monument site. "After the village of Little Wenlock itself, New Works became the most populous settlement of the parish. It attained its fullest extent by 1798, with miners and workers cottages straddled along both sides of the southern end of New Works Lane. This lane - an ancient 'hundred boundary' bordering the land granted to St Milburga in the late 7th century by the Mercian Kings - forms the western boundary of the parish's northern arm and seems to have been part of the route from Much Wenlock, via Buildwas, to Arleston and Watling Street. "In the northern arm of the parish, an ironworks was established in 1822, taken over by the Coalbrookdale Company in 1847 and closed about 1870. The course of the tramway that conveyed limestone from Steeraway and coal from the Shortwood can still be traced. Although most mining had ceased by the end of the 19th century, Lawley Furnaces colliery remained open until 1937 and opencast mining was carried on in the area after the Second World War. "The walks and pathways in and around the hamlet provide an opportunity to experience and savour the wonderful landscape, flora and fauna. The bluebells of Short Wood in the full bloom of springtime are worthy of a memorable visit."

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