Monument record 7980/1 - Bell Pits West of Hough Hole Mill

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Summary

Area of pits visible as earthworks to the west of the site of Hough Hole Mill. Three of the pits appear to be bell pits which are typically associated with early post medieval coal mining. The shaft was dug to the level of the coal, which was them extracted by cutting out from the base of the shaft and hand winched to the surface. Typically no supports (props) were used, which limited the depth and the extent of the workings. Therefore it is quite typical to encounter sequences of bell pits which follow the line of the coal seam. This method of mining coal was in use from the medieval period till at least the eighteenth century.

Map

Type and Period (3)

Full Description

<1> Historic England & Archaeological Research Services, 2017, Cheshire National Mapping Programme and Lidar Mapping Project: Sampling the Peak Fringe, Cheshire Plain and Mersey Valley, 1599754 (Digital Archive). SCH8172.

Extensive post medieval coal mining centred at approximately SJ 944 758 on the eastern slopes of Kerridge Hill is visible as earthworks on vertical aerial photography and lidar imagery. Though some of the features are obscured by tree cover on the latest 2011 vertical aerial photography, the remainder appear to be extant.

The majority of the coal mining is visible as large groups (centred at SJ 9448 7573 and SJ 9442 7620) or smaller clusters (SJ 9445 7531 and SJ 9428 7661) of mine shafts and associated mounds and spoil heaps. Associated trackways cross the eastern slopes, providing access to the site and linking some of the mounds (see 2-4).

<2> National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd, 1992-3, National Remote Sensing Centre County Survey (1992-1993), SJ97NW, 31/10/1992 (Aerial Photograph). SCH5297.

<3> Environment Agency, 2003-2020, Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys, SJ9475, 19-22/04/2006 (Digital Archive). SCH7819.

<4> Next Perspectives, 2011, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery (2011), SJ9476, 08/04/2011 (Aerial Photograph). SCH8291.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 01/08/2017 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Area of pits visible as earthworks to the west the site of Hough Hole Mill (see 6). Three of the pits appear to be bell pits and form part of the wider coal mining area referred to in (1).

<6> Bluesky International Ltd, 2010, 2010 Bluesky Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH5444.

<7> Higham N J, 1984-9, Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs, 1988/2/1/33, 1988/2/2/4 (Aerial Photograph). SCH7659.

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <1> Digital Archive: Historic England & Archaeological Research Services. 2017. Cheshire National Mapping Programme and Lidar Mapping Project: Sampling the Peak Fringe, Cheshire Plain and Mersey Valley. N/A. 1599754.
  • <2> Aerial Photograph: National Remote Sensing Centre Ltd. 1992-3. National Remote Sensing Centre County Survey (1992-1993). N/A. Old Cheshire. SJ97NW, 31/10/1992.
  • <3> Digital Archive: Environment Agency. 2003-2020. Environment Agency LiDAR Surveys. N/A. SJ9475, 19-22/04/2006.
  • <4> Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2011. Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery (2011). N/A. SJ9476, 08/04/2011.
  • <5> Oral Communication: Various. Various. Oral communication to the HER. Edwards R, 01/08/2017.
  • <6> Aerial Photograph: Bluesky International Ltd. 2010. 2010 Bluesky Survey.
  • <7> Aerial Photograph: Higham N J. 1984-9. Professor Nick Higham's Aerial Photographs. N/A. N/A. 1988/2/1/33, 1988/2/2/4.

Related Monuments/Buildings (3)

Related Events/Activities (2)

External Links (0)

Location

Grid reference Centred SJ 941 765 (242m by 198m) (2 map features)
Map sheet SJ97NW
Civil Parish RAINOW, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE EAST
Civil Parish BOLLINGTON, MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE EAST
Historic Township/Parish/County BOLLINGTON, PRESTBURY, CHESHIRE
Historic Township/Parish/County RAINOW, PRESTBURY, CHESHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Record last edited

Sep 25 2017 2:31PM