19th century mining remains, West Challacombe Farm, Combe Martin, West Exmoor Coast

Record ID:  100661 / MNA148424
Record type:  Monument
Protected Status: None Recorded
NT Property:  West Exmoor Coast; South West
Civil Parish:  Combe Martin; North Devon; Devon
Grid Reference:  SS 59339 48111
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Summary

An openwork is visible as linear trial trench 100 metres long. It is thought to be associated with the 19th Century Girt Down mine.

Identification Images (0)

Most Recent Monitoring

None Recorded

Monument Types

  • (Former Type) IRONSTONE WORKINGS (19th C - 1801 AD to 1900 AD)

Description

Large cutting aligned E-W. About 100m long, 10m wide and 2.5m deep. W end is cut by the later C19 boundary wall, separating the Little and Great Hangman estates. There is a spoilheap adjacent to the W end of the workings. The feature is heavily overgrown with gorse and scrub. References: County SMR No: SS54NE-040 / 1889 and 1904 OS 1:2500 maps. [1-3]
A linear extractive pit, known locally as an openwork is visible on aerial photographs above The Rawns, Combe Martin. It is centred at SS 5933 4811, and is similar in size and form to the openworks located to the west, at Little Hangman Cliff, which are thought to be associated with iron or manganese working at the Girt Down Mine Sett. It may be the result of several smaller trial pits gradually being linked to form a single pit, but due to its position on the edge of the cliff, it is not possible to discern an exact plan from aerial photographs. The area is at risk from coastal erosion and further study is required to assess the preservation of these and other mine workings in the area. [4]

References

  • <1> SZR49084 - National Trust Report: Caroline Thackray. 1984. NT Archaeological Survey, Great and Little Hangman, Devon..

  • <2> SZB52483 - National Trust Report: Dr Nick Berry. Archaeological & Landscape Survey of West Challacombe Farm, Combe Martin, Devon.

  • <3> SNA62241 - Document: Nick Berry. 2002. Archaeological and Historic Landscape Survey of West Challacombe Farm, Combe Martin, Devon.

  • <4>XY SNA69541 - Report: Hegarty, C and Toms, K. 2009. Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme Management and Summary Report. 616408. [Mapped feature: #201080 19th century mine workings, ]

Designations

None Recorded

Other Statuses and References

  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
  • HER/SMR Reference (External): MDE8286
  • National Monuments Record Reference: SS54NE42
  • National Park
  • Pastscape Reference: 616408

Associated Events

  • ENA10533 - Heritage Assessment, Exmoor National Park National Mapping Programme

Associated Finds

None Recorded

Related Records

None Recorded