MMO2319 - Two small quarries south of Limecombe Cottage (Monument)

Two small quarries are visible on aerial photographs as earthworks south of Limecombe Cottage, Exmoor. Centred at approximately SS 7642 4018, both quarries are cut into the steep east facing slope above Lime Combe. The larger quarry to the north measures 7.5 metres across, while the smaller quarry to the south measures 6 metres. They most likely date to the post medieval period, although neither is depicted on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, suggesting they were abandoned prior to publication in 1889. The name "Limecombe" suggests that this area may have been exploited for limestone, and there are a number of old quarries depicted in the area on the 1889 map (see MMO2318). The cottages at Limecombe were built by the Knight family, who also intended to construct a station nearby for their proposed Simonsbath-Porlock mineral railway. It is possible that the quarries were part of this proposal. [1-4] 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]