| Three Shire Head | |
River Dane and packhorse bridge at Three Shire Head |
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Three Shire Head
Three Shire Head shown within Staffordshire |
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| OS grid reference | SK009685 |
|---|---|
| District | Staffordshire Moorlands |
| Shire county | Staffordshire |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| List of places: UK • England • Staffordshire | |
Three Shire Head (also known as Three Shire's Head, Three Shires Head, Three Shire Heads) is the point on Axe Edge Moor where Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire meet, at UK grid reference SK009685, or .
It is on the River Dane, which marks the Cheshire border in this area. On the east of the river, the border between Staffordshire and Derbyshire runs north-east for about a mile to Cheeks Hill, on the higher regions of Axe Edge Moor. From Cheeks Hill the border runs south then east to the head of the River Dove.[1]
The main landmark is an ancient packhorse bridge.
In modern times, the main significance of Three Shire Head is as a landmark on various walking routes in this part of the moorlands.[2][3][4][5]
The packhorse bridge and the waterfalls as the River Dane flows southwards are very picturesque,[6] and frequently feature on calendars.[7]
A report shows that this moorland area is of interest for its population of moths and butterflies.[8]
The presence of the packhorse bridge shows the importance of this route for traders from nearby Flash and Hollinsclough to Macclesfield. Silk was produced at Hollinsclough, and sent to the mills at Macclesfield.[9] Coal was mined from about 1600 on Axe Edge.[10]