Balls Green just east of Nailsworth was the site of two stone quarries, known as the Upper and Lower series. Both quarries operated between around 1800 and 1914. Stone from the quarries was used for, amongst other buildings, King Edward VI Grammar School in Birmingham, Gloucester Cathedral and parts of the interior of the Houses of Parliament. The stone was also used in the unusual if not unique ‘bee shelter’, originally built for local quarry owner and businessman Paul Tuffley and now re-erected in the grounds of Hartpury Church.
Immediately before and during World War II, the quarry was re-opened and waste stone was extracted for use as hardcore at RAF Kemble (now Cotswold Airport) and RAF Aston Down (now home to the Cotswold Gliding Club).