MSO7475 - Bearland Wood Iron Mine (Monument)

Summary

Bearland Wood Iron Mine was worked by the Brendon Hills Iron Ore Company from 1854, after successful trials. It was closed in 1883.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

This disused mine was one of the Brendon Hills Iron Ore Company works. Work was started here in 1854 after successful trials. It was closed in the 1880s. The shafts are still visible as earthworks. The mine also had two associated cottages which are still extant. [1-4] The site was one of the Brendon Hills Iron Ore mines. Work started in 1854 after initial research in the 1830s at SS 9747 3575 (Trial pit). New adits sunk to the northwest (SS 9740 3585 and SS 9742 3581) which were very successful. 12,000 tons of brown haematite were brought out and carried to Lanham Hill Mine (MSO7476) by a temporary incline worked by horse whims. The mine was closed in the 1880s. The mine also has two cottages for workers. [2] Other remains include air shaft with chimney (SS 9732 3578). [3] "Pit (disused)" printed on Ordnance Survey Archaeological Division 6 inch map. [6] Mining remains in Bearland Wood are centred at SS 9745 3590 and comprise two adits with attendant spoil heaps, and the site of a third adit, the remains of a building recently exposed by the Exmoor Mines Research Group and believed to be Lethbridge's smelting furnace of the 1840s, and a chimney, flue and shaft constructed to ventilate one of the adits. All now lie within forestry plantations. Surveyed with EDM and GPS as part of the RCHME Exmoor Project. [9-11] SS 9734 3577. Ventilation flue in Chargot Wood. The ventilation chimney was scheduled on 28 August 2001. [12] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [13] Additional bibliography. [14]

Sources/Archives (14)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1962. 6 Inch Map: 1962. 1:10560. SS93NE.
  • <2> Monograph: Sellick, R.. 1970. The West Somerset Mineral Railway and the Story of the Brendon Hills Iron Mines. David and Charles Limited. Second. P. 28,40-41,61.
  • <3> Monograph: Bryant T.C. 1980. The Hollow Hills of Brendon. P. 5.
  • <4> Verbal communication: Various. 1900-. Somerset County Council / South West Heritage Trust staff comments. E Dennison, SCPD, 2 September 1986.
  • <5> Report: Coate, S.. The Brendon Hills Iron Industry. P. 5.
  • <6> Map: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1935. 6" SS93NE.
  • <7> Technical drawing: HBC 3.003.-1 1:2500.
  • <8> Report: Jones, M.H.. 1995. Notes on some of the Brendon Hills Iron Mines and the West Somerset Mineral Railway.
  • <9> Technical drawing: Riley, H. and Wilson-North, R.. 1999. Bearland Wood/pencil survey. Unknown. Permatrace. Pencil.
  • <10> Technical drawing: Riley, H. and Wilson-North, R.. 1999. Bearland Wood/ink survey. Unknown. Permatrace. Pen and Ink.
  • <11> Unpublished document: Wilson-North, R.. Various. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, March 1999.
  • <12> Unpublished document: English Heritage. 26/9/2001. English Heritage to Somerset County Council.
  • <13> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 1128076, Updated 25 April 2022.
  • <14> Article in serial: Jones, M.H.. 2006. The Brendon Hills Industrial Survey 1993–2005. Industrial Archaeology Review. 28. Part 2, pp 97-106.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11387
  • Local List Status (Rejected)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 93 NE58
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 1128076
  • Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 33743

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 974 358 (208m by 348m)
Map sheet SS93NE
Civil Parish LUXBOROUGH, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (6)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Related Articles (1)

Record last edited

Apr 28 2022 2:54PM

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