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HER Number:MDV5718
Name:Petre's Pits

Summary

Petre's Pits, or Hills Pits, or Halls Pits are china clay pits at the head of Bala Brook. They are the only site for clay working in the Shipley area and were presumably worked during each episode in the clay industry here.

Location

Grid Reference:SX 659 647
Map Sheet:SX66SE
Admin AreaDartmoor National Park
Civil ParishSouth Brent
DistrictSouth Hams
Ecclesiastical ParishSOUTH BRENT

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66SE/45

Monument Type(s) and Dates

  • (Alternate Type) CHINA CLAY WORKS (XVIII to Mid 20th Century - 1800 AD (Between) to 1950 AD (Between))
  • CLAY PIT (XVIII to Mid 20th Century - 1800 AD (Between) to 1950 AD (Between))

Full description

1969, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145044.

'old claypit' and 'petre's pit' indicated on os 6" (1907) only 'petre's pit' indicated on os 6" (1969) (os).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145046.

Ramsden, j. V. /tda/84(1952)98 fig.1/notes on the mines of devonshire. P4 petre's pits; tin (ramsden).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145047.

Crossing, w. M. /guide to dartmoor/(1909).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145048.

Harris,h. /industrial archaeology of dartmoor/95.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145049.

Gill, c.(ed)/dartmoor, a new study/222.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145050.

Usher, w. A. E. /memoirs of a geological survey/sheet 349 p.121.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145052.

Des=parish checklist/south brent. Des=worksheet/r. Robinson(-/1/1979) in parish file. Vis=-/1/1979 (robinson, r. ). Petres pits, or hills pits, or halls pits are china clay pits at the head of bala brook. They are the only site for clay working in the shipley area and were presumably worked during each episode in the clay industry here. A deep cutting at the head of bala brook widens into a large pit perhaps 100m x 300m and 30m deep, with white clay showing here and there in the sides. There is a causeway on the upper or western side between this and a second higher pit which is of comparable size but more irregular with mounds and heaps in the floor. The floor of the lower pit runs back as a level, linking with the narrow gauge railway laid further east. It is possible that these still extend into the pits but the area is so marshy and overgrown that it is impossible to be sure.(worksheet)

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV145053.

Aph=raf/cpe/uk/1890 4273-4274(10/12/1946).

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV145054.

Aph=nmr sf2200/1103-1122(11/4/1985).

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

Visible within an area of streamwork SX66SE/306 on RAF 1946 AP and 1985 NMR AP.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV145044Migrated Record: 1969.
SDV145046Migrated Record:
SDV145047Migrated Record:
SDV145048Migrated Record:
SDV145049Migrated Record:
SDV145050Migrated Record:
SDV145052Migrated Record:
SDV145053Aerial Photograph:
SDV145054Aerial Photograph:
SDV319854Cartographic: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1985. Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP. Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England Aerial Photograph P. Cartographic.

Associated Monuments

MDV13382Parent of: Clay dries, building remains, South Brent (Monument)
MDV13468Parent of: Iron tramway trolley at Petre's Pits, Bala Brook Head (Find Spot)
MDV134615Parent of: Pipeline at Petre's Pits, Bala Brook Head (Monument)
MDV13467Parent of: Tramway at Petre's Pits clay work, South Brent (Monument)
MDV13381Related to: Ruinous building at Bala Brook Head China Clay workings (Building)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded


Date Last Edited:Dec 5 2023 4:48PM

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