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C is for Clee is a proposed community arts, sense-of-place engagement project set at Clee Hill’s Victoria Car Park, inspired by the view, the area’s industrial roots and the hill’s importance in the skyline of the Shropshire Hills.

The accessible viewpoint project proposal will be discussed at the Caynham Parish Council meeting on September 22nd. Consultation with the local community is gauging interest and helping to shape the project.  If you have comments please feed this into the consulataion - details of who to email at the bottom of this page.

SIGNIFICANCE: At 533 metres elevation, Titterstone Clee Hill is the third highest point in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. When seen from the south, south-west and south-east its distinctive shape and scale dominate the horizon.

VICTORIA CAR PARK: At a slightly lower elevation (380m), Victoria Car Park is a popular viewpoint, well known for its unrivalled panoramic views of the southern hills. In 2025, the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team worked with Coreley and Caynham Parish Councils to improve the accessibility of the car park. The following project description is phase 2 of this work to create an accessible and distinctive interpretive feature that celebrates the special significance of the place and its people.

Project Description

MAKING THEIR MARK: It is our intention to design and create this accessible viewpoint feature that includes creative pieces made by local people so that anyone within the community who wishes to make their mark within the feature will have the opportunity to do so. The feature will be built to last; sustainable and regenerative, it will become iconic for visitors to the area. Overall, it will be accessible and inclusive, allowing as many people as possible to enjoy it. It will require the minimum of maintenance to ensure its long-term value.

Additional effort will be made to include people from the less-able community, local disability groups (such as Sight Loss Shropshire), care homes and carers.

FEATURE DESCRIPTION: Imagine a capital C laid on the landscape much as the hillfort rests on the summit of the hill. The open side of the letter is the entrance to the feature, but with a wedge-shaped triangle of stones both representing the quarry and pointing towards the view.

The ‘internal circle’ of the feature is exactly 5.33 m across, (measured between the edges of the internal seating) and the width of the wall is 533mm recognizing the height of Clee Hill’s summit. The entire structure is 7100mm diameter, approximately 22m circumference.

At the centre of the enclosure, a pillar, possibly of wood, carved brick, cast metal or clay, has been made and installed by a local sculptor. The pillar stands like a finger or needle 1800mm high and is proportionate to the space, making a statement without inhibiting movement.

The C is a dry-stone wall constructed of dhustone and clay bricks made within the community and imprinted with words referencing places, people, features, stories and other words deemed by the community to be most relevant to the location. The rock and bricks used to make the structure reference the geology, quarrying and coal industry of the area. Imagine the outer side of the structure is dhustone and the inner handmade bricks.

The inner 900mm high wall includes a number of seats and perches at various heights, to allow for sitting and perching. There are gaps between the seats rather than seats running in an unbroken curve. Bricks in the top of the wall are aligned with key features in the view such as Clows Top, the Cotswolds, Great Malvern and Hereford Cathedral. The outer edge of the C feature has been built to provide habitat for insects and crag loving plants.

Funding, proposed timetable and consultation responses

100% of the funding will be sourced through the Defra Access for All scheme that will be recognised as part of the project and referenced in the feature. It is intended that the structure will be completed by March 2027, but allowances may be made for overrun if similar funding is available in FY27/8

The project proposal will be discussed at the Caynham Parish Council meeting on September 22nd. Please send comments on this proposal to Eric Williams, clerk@caynhamparishcouncil.gov.uk or to Nigel McDonald, Regenerative Tourism Officer, Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team, Nigel.McDonald@shropshire.gov.uk.