Barrow Hill

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. 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. Another reminder of the industrial age in the reserve is a footpath that follows the course of one of the Earl of Dudley's…