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Summary

A western extension of Barton Pits involving at least 5 pits, has disappeared. (Dixon, D).

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SS73SW/5/1

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• OPEN CAST MINE (XVIII to XXI - 1751 AD to 2009 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

'Barton Pits' shown on First Edition Ordnance Survey 1880-1899 25 inch map.

Ordnance Survey, 1903, Ordnance Survey 1903 6 inch map revision of 1887 (Cartographic). SDV342818.

Barton Pits is not shown on the Ordnance Survey 1903 revision of 1887 6 inch map.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 1904-1906 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV63521.

'Barton Pits' shown on Second Edition Ordnance Survey 1904-06 25 inch map.

Slader, J. M., 1965, Days of Renown: The Story of Mining on Exmoor and the Border Parishes (Article in Serial). SDV63520.

A western extension of Barton Pits beyond the gate and alongside the lane to Hunnawins Farm, involving at least five further pits, has disappeared. They are shown in a photograph in J.M Slader's 'Days of Renown', published in 1965.

Youell, R.F., 1971, Mineral Deposits of Western Exmoor (Site Visit). SDV60667.

Substantial quantities of metalliferous are present on Exmoor. Workings date back to before Elizabethan times, but ceased about 1880 at the time of a recession in the iron and steel industry. The mineral deposits were of both acedemic and commercial interest, but the difficulties of transport as compared with mines of South Devon and Cornwall will put them at a disadvantage.

Dixon, D., 1983, Mining and the Community in the Parishes of North Molton, South Molton, Molland and Twitchen, Devonshire, Volume I and II (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV343736.

Unknown, 2002, Barton Pits (Correspondence). SDV342849.

Letter sent to Historic Environment Service from Exmoor National Park as Bartin Pits is situated outside of their administration. The letter describes Bartin Pits as three setts of openworks and appear to have been worked in antiquity and are considered by local historian Annett, N (unpublished manuscript) to have been the mines of Domesday iron workers. It is thought the pitts were worked for manganese some time prior to be taken over by the Bamfylde Company. Dressing floors were erected near the present entrance to Hunnawins Farm, but the mine closed soon after and does not appear to have been worked since. The western and central parts of the working have now been levelled but the eastern still remains.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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