MSO10173 - 19th Century prospecting pit west of Larkbarrow (Monument)

The earthwork remains of a mineral prospecting trench, SS 8151 4316, lie 500 metres to the northwest of Larkbarrow farmhouse, in rough grassland at about 400 metres above Ordnance Datum. The feature consists of a trench, 2.7 metres wide and 1.4 metres deep, with a spoil mound, 1.1 metres high, running the length of its western edge. The trench is most probably related to Frederic Knight's attempts at mineral extraction on Exmoor in the mid 19th Century. [1] The feature was recorded at 1:2500 scale using differential GPS as part of an archaeological survey of the Larkbarrow area. The survey was undertaken by the Exeter office of English Heritage at the request of the Exmoor National Park Authority. A client report was produced as part of the survey work and is available from the NMRC, Swindon. [2] The feature is marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map as an earthwork but is not labelled. [3] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [4]