Reasons for Designation
Iron has been produced in England from at least 500 BC. The iron industry,
spurred on by a succession of technological developments, has played a major
part in the history of the country, its production and overall importance
peaking with the Industrial Revolution. Iron ores occur in a variety of forms
across England, giving rise to several different extraction techniques,
including open casting, seam-based mining similar to coal mining, and
underground quarrying, and resulting in a range of different structures and
features at extraction sites. Ore was originally smelted into iron in small,
relatively low-temperature furnaces known as bloomeries. These were replaced
from the 16th century by blast furnaces which were larger and operated at a
higher temperature to produce molten metal for cast iron. Cast iron is
brittle, and to convert it into malleable wrought iron or steel it needs to be
remelted. This was originally conducted in an open hearth in a finery forge,
but technological developments, especially with steel production, gave rise to
more sophisticated types of furnaces. A comprehensive survey of the iron and
steel industry has been conducted to identify a sample of sites of national
importance that represent the industry's chronological range, technological
breadth and regional diversity.
Details
The monument includes the greater part of the ruins, earthworks and other
remains of Raleigh's Cross iron mine located on the south side of the B3190
road. The mine was one of a number opened on the Brendon Hills in the
mid-19th century to exploit the high quality iron ore lode which, on the
Brendons, was most productive at two mines, Raleigh's Cross and the adjacent
Carnarvon Pit.
The Raleigh's Cross mine, which was opened in the 1850s, survives as an
infilled shaft together with a group of earth and rubble mounds many of which
indicate the position of demolished buildings including the winding engine
house, pump house, furnace stacks, miners' dry, locomotive shed, blacksmith's
shop and a row of cottages. The foundations of these buildings are thought to
survive as buried features, confirmed in some cases by archaeological
investigation. Cartographic and archaeological evidence has established the
layout of the mine and the locations of all the main components have been
identified. The mine was the only one on the Brendon Hills to have separate
winding and pumping engines.
The mine closed in 1883 and the standing buildings were demolished in 1907 to
be used as ballast for the re-opening of the West Somerset Mineral Railway.
The foundations however survive and excavations have revealed the plans of
both the pump house and winding house whilst the remainder of the general
plan is known from recorded sources. The majority of the foundations were
covered over following excavation, although some wall footings remain
exposed.
Raleigh's Cross had been one of the first iron mines to be opened on the
Brendon Hills and was considered to be one of the most important during the
30 year period of working until 1883. In May 1858 the mine had been connected
by a short branch of railway to the top of the incline which took the ore
onto Watchet for transhipment to South Wales for smelting. In 1865 a beam
pumping engine was installed and by 1867 the mine was over 116m deep with 17
levels cut east and west. Information for this scheduling has been provided
by Mike Jones of the Exmoor Mines Research Group.
All gates, fencing, fence posts and telegraph poles are excluded from the
scheduling although the ground beneath all these features is included.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
33073
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
