MMO2193 - Medieval or post-medieval prospecting trench in Hoaroak Valley (Monument)

A medieval or post-medieval quarry is visible on aerial photographs east of Hoaroak Water and west of Exe Plain. It may in fact represent an iron prospecting trench by Scheidner and Hannay, agents for Frederic Knight in the 1850s.

A medieval or post-medieval quarry is visible on aerial photographs [1] east of Hoaroak Water and west of Exe Plain. Centred at approximately SS 7484 4215 the quarry has been cut into the side of a steep west facing slope, and measures approximately 25 metres across. It is depicted but not annotated on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1890 [2], suggesting it had been abandoned some time prior to this date. Similar quarries are visible to the west, on the opposite side of Hoaroak Water. [3] A rectangular trench, 15 metres north to south by 2 metres east to west cut into the hillside to a depth of 2 metres, with a bank of spoil on the west (downslope) edge is probably a prospecting trench for iron and dates from the 1850s when Scheidner and Hannay, agents for Frederic Knight, were looking for iron in the Hoaroak Valley. [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]