Scowles in Dingle Wood 560m north west of Scowles Farm

Reasons for Designation

From at least the Roman period until the 18th century the Forest of Dean was an important production centre for iron. The iron ore bearing strata between Lydney and Staunton are likely to have been exploited since the Iron Age, and the crease limestone to the south of Staunton has been identified as a likely source of iron ore supplying the iron industry at Blestium (the modern Monmouth) during the Roman period. It was almost certainly being exploited again by the end of the 13th century. The below ground mining of iron ore is considered to have become the dominant method of extraction by the end of the 17th century. Thus although it is impossible to accurately date the scowles on the basis of present evidence, it is probable that they were in existence by the beginning of the 17th century, and are likely to be earlier in origin. Although iron ores occur, and have been worked to some degree, in almost every county of England, national iron production was dominated in the Roman, medieval and earlier post-medieval periods by two orefields: the Weald and the Forest of Dean. The major field remains of the industry in these two areas are therefore of considerable importance. They are a distinctive feature of the Forest of Dean, and the term scowl is believed to be unique to this area. This type of surface working following ore bearing strata is very rare elsewhere, although a few, broadly similar, features are thought to exist in South Wales and north Lancashire. The Forest of Dean scowles therefore have a particular importance as the main representatives of early open cast iron ore mining. The scowles in Dingle Wood are distinctive in that they form a complete landscape on a massive scale. Scowles run into each other with the limestone faces exposed rising to 5m high.

Details

The monument includes an area of open cast iron ore mining in the Forest of Dean, on an east facing slope about 1.5km south east of Staunton. The area is characterised by the remains of surface extraction or excavation holes which are known locally as scowles. The scowles represent surface workings which followed the ore bearing seams. It is not known precisely how the scowles were worked, and indeed, a number of different shapes of scowles exist which would indicate different methods of working either at different times or contemporaneously. Some of the larger crevaces left suggest that rock was removed together with the ore bearing material, although the smaller workings suggest that only the ore was taken. The precise date of the scowles in Dingle Wood is not yet clear, but by the end of the 17th century below ground mining of ore, which had co-existed with surface working since at least the Romano- British period, had become the normal method of extraction in the Forest of Dean. Thus the scowles can be confidently placed in date before the end of the 17th century. In this monument the scowles are on a massive scale. They run into each other and form a complete landscape so that it is difficult to ascertain the original ground surface. Much limestone is exposed forming some large rock faces up to 5m high.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

28866

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hoyle, J, Western Stowfield Quarry, Staunton, Gloucestershire Arch Assess, (1992), 2

End of official list entry

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