Smitham Chimney, East Harptree Explained

Smitham Chimney is a chimney which was used for lead mining just outside the village of East Harptree, in the parish of Priddy, Somerset, England. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]

The circular chimney has two types of red brick in its upper portion. There is a narrow opening at the base of the chimney.[2]

It was built by the 'East Harptree Lead Works Co Ltd' in 1867,[3] and by 1870 was producing 1,000 tons per annum.[4] The company was largely unsuccessful and the industry only lasted for a few years.[5] The chimney was threatened to be demolished in 1973, by the Somerset County Council but was protected from demolition.[6] [7] Because of the pollution the site supports a population of lead moss (Ditrichum plumbicola).[8]

References

51.2879°N -2.6395°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chimney at Former Lead Works on Smitham Hill, Priddy. British Listed Buildings. 28 August 2011.
  2. Web site: Chimney at NGR ST 5542 5461, Smitham Hill. Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. 28 August 2011.
  3. Web site: Harptree and Smitham Hill. British Geological Survey. 28 August 2011.
  4. Web site: Mendip Lead Mining 1600 – 1900. Your Paulton. 28 August 2011.
  5. Book: Gough, J.W. . The mines of Mendip . 1967 . David & Charles . Newton Abbot .
  6. Web site: East Harptree. Forestry Commission. 28 August 2011.
  7. News: Vallins. John. Somerset. 28 August 2011. The Guardian. 16 June 2009.
  8. Rumsey. Fred. Helena. Crouch. Ditrichum plumbicola Crundw. (lead-moss) in the Mendips. Field Bryology. October 2010. 102. 3–9.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Smitham Chimney, East Harptree".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.