Gruffy Ground

Mineral Matters #621

I an currently working on an article on the Clevedon Beach locality, near Bristol, England, and I came across a term I hadn’t heard before - “gruffy ground”.

So what is “gruffy ground”?

Apparently, the term "gruffy ground" is a local mining term used in Somerset, England, UK, particularly in the Mendip Hills. It refers to rough, uneven terrain that is marked by numerous mineshafts, hollows, and other depressions resulting from past mining activities, especially lead mining. The word "gruffy" comes from the obsolete words "gruff" and "gruffer," meaning mine and miner, respectively. This type of landscape is a man-made feature that has been reclaimed by nature over time, creating a unique habitat for wildlife.

So now you know!

Below: Clevedon Beach, North Somerset, England, UK. A slide photo taken in 1994.