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Firs Quarry - Hadley Arms Entrance

Hadley Arms Public House, Combe Down, Bath.

The Hadley Steps are an original access to the northern workings of Firs Quarry. They are thought to have been construced before the building of the Hadley Arms Public House in 1845 and could date from the 1803-38 quarrying of this area as the 'Three Acre Quarry.' However, it is possible they are associated with a quarry located to the north of North Road.

The steps were located beneath a manhole in the yard of the Hadley Arms Public House. It is understood that access is no longer possible after the foamed concrete stabilisation project.

Alternative Names: Combe Down Quarries, Combe Down Quarry, Firs Quarry, Firs Mine, Three Acre Quarry, Hadley Steps

Notes: The steps enter the underground workings under a magnificent corbelled stone arch. This was probably constructed to support the roof where the overlying weaker Twinhoe Beds were exposed.

The Oxford Archaeology Unit in 2004 surveyed levels of 152.3m at the base of the steps and a ceiling height of 156.7m. Ground level is 160m suggesting an overlying ground thickness of approximatel 3.3m. Hawkins (1994) had previosly suggested roof thicknesses of less than 4m and sometimes below 3 m in the area.