MMO2704 - Post-medieval quarry and prospecting pit east of Wootton Knowle (Monument)

Two earthworks are visible on aerial photographs. One is shown on historic mapping and annotated as Old Quarry; the other is less clearly defined and may be a prospecting pit. They are probably post-medieval in date.

Relict quarry pits are visible as an earthwork on aerial photographs, circa 180 metres to the east of Wootton Knowle, centred approximately at SS 9324 4424. Evidence for at least 2 pits can be seen as earthworks. The easternmost, oval shaped pit that abuts the course of the road to Wootton Courtenay is up to 20 metres in diameter. This is the earthwork depicted on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1889 and annotated as Old Quarry. It may be the remains of a road builder's pit. The annotation indicates that this pit had ceased operation by this time and supports an interpretation of a probable post-medieval date. The second pit, some 20 metres to the northeast, is less well defined and may be the remains of earlier prospecting pits. [1-4] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [5]