In shifting the woodpile behind the shed at the bottom of the garden I found a number of these fat black, glistening spiders running for cover. I wasn't able to get particularly good pictures, but I'm fairly sure that this is a black lace weaver spider (Amaurobius Ferox to be scientifically specific). It's hard to be sure whether it's that or its close relations Amaurobius Similis or Amaurobius Fenestralis. Comments are very welcome, but to my mind the very dark colouration, relatively large size (about 13mm body) and location swing it.