MMO2814 - Post-medieval or modern quarry on Bye Hill (Monument)

A small quarry pit is visible on aerial photographs as an earthwork on of Bye Hill, centred on circa SS 89513573. The pit is roughly oval in shape apart from where it abuts a former field boundary on its southern side. At the widest point, the pit measures approximately 15 by 9 metres. It is not marked on the on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1890 [3], and therefore may have passed out of use by this time or, less likely, be of early 20th Century date. The purpose of the pit is unclear, but it is one of at least eight similarly sized pits visible over the summit of Bye Hill, and may be evidence of mineral prospection. Most of these small pits appear to have been levelled by the 1970s. [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]