Lead Mining on the Mendip Hills

The mineral wealth of the Mendip Hills led to the development of a major Roman mining settlement at Charterhouse.  Mining of lead continued in this area into the Medieval and Post Medieval periods particularly around Charterhouse, Stockhill and Chancellor’s Farm.

The remains of lead mining have created distinctive patterns in the landscape of the Mendip Hills.  Desposits close to the surface are mined and then the seam is followed.  This caused long lines of pits to be excavated, known as mining rakes.

The rakes initially appear to consist of a single, long pit on aerial photographs, but when looked at in detail, as shown by the NMP mapping, the many small excavations from which it is formed can be identified.

For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us at: AerialSurvey@english-heritage.org.uk.