| Summary : Extraction pits for ironstone, possibly originating in the medieval period or earlier, extend over a spur of land, defined by Gallopping Bottom to the west and an un-named stream to the east. They compare in form and extent with those preserved on the Blackdown Hills, for example at North Hill Common. In the 19th century this area, known as Colton Pits, was worked by the Ebbw Vale Company. It closed in 1883 and was re-opened in 1907 by the Somerset Mineral Railway Syndicate. A light railway, connected by an incline from Galloping Bottom, conveyed the ore to the yard at Brendon Hill. A brief period of prosperity ensued, but the mine closed for good in 1909. |
More information : Ancient iron-mining at Colton (Area ST 0335) was known about before 1853, and in 1865 an adit on the east side of the hill there was opened. After driving 130 ft ancient
workings were intercepted over 100 ft below the surface. In these were found an oak shovel, some broken earthenware, a pickaxe and a turf dam; the dam appearing to be one of a series rising to the surface by means of which water was baled from level to level out of the mine. These were probably 18th century relics as a mine over 100 ft deep would be most unusual before then. (The adit may be represented by 'Shaft disused' published at ST 05353484 on OS 1:10 000 1976).
Colton Pits was worked during the latter part of the 19th century by the Ebbw Vale Company. It closed in 1883 and was re-opened in 1907 by the Somerset Mineral Railway Syndicate. A light railway, connected by an incline from Galloping Bottom, conveyed the ore to the yard at Brendon Hill. A brief period of prosperity ensued, but the mine closed for good in 1909.
(1)
The ironstone mining area covers a large area of ground on the northern escarpment of the Brendon Hills, and is centred at ST 052 348. A spur of land, defined by Gallopping Bottom to the west and an un-named stream to the east, is covered with the remains of extraction pits for ironstone. These may date from the medieval period or earlier and compare in form and extent with those preserved on the Blackdown Hills, for example at North Hill Common (2).
The 19th century ironstone mines consist of West Colton Adit, on the eastern side of Galloping Bottom, and East Colton Adit, on the side of the un-named tributary stream. West Colton Adit is depicted on the 1st edition OS 25" map as an adit and large spoil dump (ST 0503 3512). East Colton Adit is also depicted on the 1st edition map, and is named "Colton Pit (Disused)". A shaft is shown at ST 0535 3482 and also marked on the 1st edition are two large spoil dumps to the east of this shaft (3).
Both the 19th century mining remains and the earlier extraction pits are now under dense coniferous plantation. The remains are, however, visible on air photographs of 1947 and 1964, and are the subject of a large scale transcription by the APU (4-5).
The area of ironstone extraction has been surveyed by EH at a scale of 1:1000 at the request of the ENPA archaeologist. Full details in the survey report. (6-10)
The pre-19th century extractive pits are clearly visible as earthworks on aerial photographs of the 1940s, 1960s and 2000s. They have been transcribed at a scale of 1:2500 as part of the Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme Survey. At the surface the pits are roughly circular in shape and measure over 5 metres in diameter. They are closely spaced, with less than 1 metre separating many of the pits. Large dumps of spoil surround many of the pits. The 1960s aerial photographs reveal that the earthworks have been impacted by landscaping in advance of plantation planting. It is possible the circular earthworks are later-prehistoric in date. (11-13)
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