Open Country The Rock Houses of Staffordshire
Mar 12, 2026
Ewan Chapman, National Trust countryside manager restoring heathland and bringing back tree pipits, reptiles and other rare fauna. David Bowen, volunteer guide who leads tours through restored rock-cut cottages and explains daily life and furnishings. Claire Hale, National Trust manager outlining the rock houses' long occupancy and features. Brett Westwood, naturalist describing oil beetles and their ties to solitary bees. Short, lively chat about homes, history and returning wildlife.
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Fletcher Family Life In A Two Room Rock House
- The Fletcher family lived in a two-room rock house around the turn of the 20th century with six members sharing tight domestic routines.
- David Bowen describes daily life: coal-fired range, weekly shared baths heated by boiling kettles, and a scrubbing board doubling as a musical instrument.
Sandstone Kept Rock Houses Cosy Year Round
- Sandstone provided natural insulation and humidity control, keeping cave rooms around 15°C even in winter.
- Residents used continuous fires, open ventilation and lime whitewash to manage dampness and make rooms brighter and larger.
Meg Of The Fox Earth Recorded Living On Nanny's Rock
- Nanny's Rock has the earliest written record of habitation: Margaret of the Fox Earth (Meg) appears in a 1617 burial record.
- Claire Hale says Meg likely acted as a local healer or 'white witch' selling potions made from local plants.