Hi Rick,
In 2003 a colleague and I were surveying a series of pit workings and shallow shafts in Cleeve Wood in the Mendips. I think the workings were associated with either lead or calamine, but I'm not certain. It was notable that a large number of the shafts had yew trees either growing from the wall of the shaft or the spoil heap immediately adjacent to the lip of the shaft. As there were very few yews in the wood that were not associated with shafts in a mostly deciduous woodland, we concluded that they must have been deliberately planted in the shafts by someone. Some were quite large trees.
We were greatly puzzled by this at the time but you might just be on to something here.
Regards
Phil
Phil Newman
Archaeological Survey & Investigation Team (Exeter)
English Heritage
5 Marlborough Court, Manaton Close
Matford
Exeter, EX2 8PF
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rick Stewart, Morwellham Quay Mine Manager
Sent: 26 January 2009 12:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Matters vegetable
Yesterday whilst leading a walk at Devon Great Consols I made mention of the practice of planting holy bushes to mark shafts and the belief that this was meant to keep the devil in his proper place. One of the people on the walk suggested that in addition to planting holy bushes miners, on abandoning a working would plant specific plants in the vicinity of a lode to let future generations of miners know what was there, different plants being used to indicate different minerals.
Can anyone expand on this.
Rick Stewart
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