Peak District National Park
Three Shires' Head, Upper Dane Valley
At Three Shires Head, the counties of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire meet in the wild upper reaches of the River Dane. An ancient packhorse bridge spans the lively stream close by Panniers Pool. The packhorse remained the prime means of goods conveyance after the dissolution of the monasteries, and was only ousted by the transport revolution of the nineteenth century. Teams of wiry ponies crossed the surrounding high moorland carrying loads such as salt, cloth, coal, calico, buttons and hides. The packmen took on the role of postmen, merchants and bearers of news for the isolated farmsteads and hamlets.
Three Shires Head was an important track junction, and due to the volume of packhorse traffic it appears that the bridge was widened at one time. Today, these old trackways form excellent walking routes for ramblers.