MDE8275 - 19th or 20th Century trial mine shaft south of Lester Point (Monument)

A trial shaft for silver and lead is visible as a vertical working. It was either associated with the 19th Century workings of the West Challacombe Mine sett, or possibly with prospecting in 1935. Summary from record MDE21473: Vis=14/5/1993 (rchm) shaft 15m above sea level on s side of lester point. Near vertical.3.5m e-w by 2m by 8m deep. Claughton states that it was a trial shaft for silver lead on the crowns lode, probably associated with 19c west challacombe mine sett. However, burton's statement that ore was found at the foot of lester point in 1935 but not exploited, may refer to this shaft(rchm).

SS 57531 47606. A shaft some 15 metres above sea level on the south side of Lester Point. The near vertical rectangular shaft measures 3.5 metres east to west by 2 metres and is sunk some 8 metres down into the cliff. According to Claughton [1] this was a trial shaft prospecting for silver lead on the Crowns Lode [2] and was most probably associated with the 19th Century workings of the West Challacombe Mine sett (MDE8262). However Burton [3] says that "as late as 1935 rich ore was discovered at the foot of Lester Point but the discovery was not exploited", and that could be a reference to this shaft. [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]