Quarrying started here, initially from surface workings, in Roman Times. The local 11th century Whittington Church is certainly built of local stone. By the 19th century, a complex of underground quarries provided Cheltenham with much of the stone for its fine buildings.
There are two main underground areas, known as Old and New Quarry, which collectively have as many as 14 entrances - now gated and secure. The underground passages extend to around 3 kilometres. making it one of the largest Cotswold quarries.
The coming of the railways meant that more distant Bath Stone could be shipped at more competitive prices and the quarries closed around 1864. Underground there still remain artefacts and grafitti from the last days of production