I have lots of examples of this type of working used for mining coal and
iron in north west england.
cheers phil H
http://www.users.daelnet.co.uk/hudson-history/index.html
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> From: Christopher Salter <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Chalck pits vs. glas-making
> Date: 23 September 1998 09:00
>
> Dear Brian,
> To be pedantic, I think that the
> Purbeck beds in Sussex are inliers. No doubt some will
> correct me if my long forgotten O-level geology is
> incorrect!
>
> Such iron mines of varying depth are (were) very common
> over large areas of the Somerset/Devon borders, Wiltshire,
> Norfolk,and parts of Surrey. In most cases the
> surface traces of these mines have been destroyed by modern
> agriculture. Exeter Archaeology excavated a small example
> on the Blackdowns a couple of years ago.
>
> I don't think that this would explain the French example,
> as I think is unlikely that the iron-slag would be mistaken
> for glass making debris. However, I have been informed that
> one noted, turn of the century, archaeologist did mistake
> alkali ash pits as bloomeries in Cumbria.
>
> Chris Salter
>
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