In reply to Tim Young & James Fussel

Firstly - re Tims last message

> As far as I am aware the Frampton Cotterell operation of the 1860s and
> 70s was an iron mine (or mines), but not an ironworks;

The early OS maps (1880?) mark the site as "Iron Works" - (there are 3 "air
shafts" and a "brick-kiln") hence the use of the term in my last posting but
I know of no evidence of anything other than mining at the site.

>  the location of our Medieval site is approximately 200m SSE of Iron
> Acton church. It is a smelting site, but we have out suspicions of the
> location of some ore working.

Interesting I've not heard of this site and will have to track it down.  Any
more info what be gratefully recieved.

> regarding the shaft Near Dowells Farm ...
> ...  it doesn't appear on the Tithe Map nor the 1830s OS, so
> I assume that it can't predate Frampton Cotterell by very much.

I know the owner of the land which contains the shaft and on my "to do" list
is contact him to see what he has in the way of deeds etc.  There is another
shaft further north near Rangeworthy Court.

The publication on Rangeworthy "by the natives" which James refers to does
make refernce to these.  I don't have my copy to hand at the momment but
will try to track own the refernce and pass it on.

> > .. what appear to be bell pits on the iron Acton/Yate boarder.
>
> I'd be interested to know more about this!

The field opposite Wistaria Farm ( behing Victoria Garage) is the site I
refer to.  I have photographs of the field when ploughed earlier this year
clearly showing areas of back/grey staining which when inspected included
the slag.  I can send details of the location and the photos if you would
like.  The field had maize in it which has recently been harvested and will
probably be ploughed again soon.

Re James' message

>'Iron mining in Frampton Cotterell', C J Spittal, Magazine of the Avon
Industrial Buildings Trust, Issue No.4, Summer 1987, pp 14-17 is quite
informative. Contact me off list if you would like me to scan and e-mail as
a PDF.

Yes please

>I also have a publication produced by the natives of Rangeworthy which is
useful for Old Wood Colliery etc - tithe map on cover is interesting w/r to
field and lane names; unfortunately this has disappeared into my wife's
filing system - a search party has been dispatched.

The "natives you refer to go under the name of the "Womens Institute".  The
document has recently been updated and reproduced (for the millenium) - the
new version is not much different from the original.  The Oldwood stuff is
based largely on a secondary school project carried out by the site owners
daughter.  I have a copy of the project which, considering the age of the
auther is very good.  It does however have some inacuracies and assumptions
which have been carried through into the WI article - eg it refers to the
Adit as an Iron mine (see earlier comments).  There are also comments in the
WI publication which do  not appear in the school project and I am trying to
track down the source (and accuracy of these)

While your looking through the WI publication check out the property known
as "Oakdean" - On the site is what appears on O/S maps as "trial shaft".
There are two small spoil heaps on this site and the local history suggests
more than just a "trial".

Regards

David