Worryingly, the Hills Hopper service is under threat, despite the fact that it is a very well used and popular resource. It would be great if all of the Beacon Newsletter readers could try out the Hills Hopper bus this year, and encourage others to do also. By using our cars less, we can all play our part in reducing our carbon footprints and of course taking some of the pressure off these wonderful Hills.
(For details about the Hills Hopper timetable contact Malvernian Tours on 01684 862151 or check the AONB website www.malvernhillsaonb.org.uk)
Early in 1907 quarrying operations commenced at a new site, to the south of the Hay Slad quarry in West Malvern (now known as the West of England); it was soon to demonstrate the advances in technology, the vulnerability of the hills and the inadequate powers of the MHC to protect them.
Benjamin Bright was able to work the quarry as he claimed 'lordship of the Manor of Farley' within which the land was situated. Things had changed since 1884 which greatly increased the value of Malvern stone. With the invention of suitable crushing machinery it proved to be ideal for road making. Improvement in roads was needed to accommodate that other modern invention, the motorcar.
From the first, MHC opposed the quarry, having received legal advice that they had no right to stop the owner of the mineral rights extracting stone (following the death of Benjamin Bright ownership passed to his daughter Mrs Honora Phoebe Gertrude Cave-Brown-Cave) they decided to fight on the grounds of the loss of commonable land. Papers relating to the case, which took place in the High Court, fill three boxes and consist mainly of rather turgid and repetitious legal argument.
However the statements from witnesses on behalf of MHC give an insight into the commoners use of the hills for their sheep both at that time and also pre-1884.
Mr Foster (clerk to MHC) stated that at that time the only other quarry on the hills where machinery was used was Berington's. Archivally, the most interesting material produced in connection with this case are probably the earliest photographs taken of the quarries to demonstrate the impact on the hills of modern quarrying compared with more traditional methods.
The outcome was that the case was dismissed with costs being awarded against MHC. The 1909 Malvern Hills Act failed to bring about any improvement in the situation which was to become a major focus of the 1924 Act. The West of England quarry ceased working on 12th March 1930 and MHC were then able to acquire it by compulsory purchase.
As the development of this quarry marked a key stage in the potential devastation of the landscape, so its closure was a precedent for the cessation of all quarrying on the hills.