MSO8964 - Smoky Bottom Pit (Monument)

Little is known of the pit's history but it had ceased operations by 1867. Owned by the Brendon Hills Iron Ore Company, it was also known as the Smallcombe Bottom Mine. An elongated spoil heap is visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs.

"Smoky Bottom Pit" is marked on the Ordnance Survey maps of 1962 and 1904. [1,2] Little is known of its history but it had ceased operations by 1867. It was owned by the Brendon Hills Iron Ore Company and was also known as the Smallcombe Bottom Mine. [3] Located at SS 9785 3525 is elongated spoil heap associated with the above mentioned Smokey Bottom ironstone mine. The tip was seen as an earthwork and mapped from aerial photographs. [5-7] By 1865 the depth of the shaft was such that the portable engine at Smoky Bottom Pit was not able to effectively drain the mine. Rather than construct a permanent engine house, Smoky Bottom mine was connected with the new engine drift at Langham Hill, approximately 350 metres to the north. The Langham Hill drift was sunk in 1886 and a cross cut driven south, undercutting and draining Smoky Bottom. Winding from the surface at Smoky Bottom subsequently ceased, the engine removed and timber structure dismantled. As at Langham Hill, the new owner of the Chargot Estate, James Harvey Insole insisted that all mining remains at Smoky Bottom be covered with spoil, presumably imported from Langham Hill. The engine house was excavated in 1985-1986 by the Somerset Industrial Archaeological Society. [9] The shaft is situated at circa SS 97793512, its location marked by two beech trees. [10] Following the partial uncovering of stonework adjacent to a 19th Century iron mine, members of SIAS began an excavation to record and interpret the remains. Although the mine's operating period was believed to be of short duration, preliminary results suggest at least two phases of construction. [11] The remains of the engine house which stood close to the shaft head were excavated by the Somerset Industrial Archaeological Society between 1985 and 1987. It was found that the former spoil heap had been used to cover over the ruined building when it was disused. The ruins of the engine house are exposed and were recorded in detail during the excavations. [13] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [14] Additional bibliography. [15-16]