Smitham Chimney, East Harptree

Smitham Chimney

Smitham Chimney is a chimney which was used for lead mining just outside the village of East Harptree, in the parish of Priddy, Somerset, England. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]

The circular chimney has two types of red brick in its upper portion. There is a narrow opening at the base of the chimney.[2]

It was built by the 'East Harptree Lead Works Co Ltd' in 1867,[3] and by 1870 was producing 1,000 tons per annum.[4] The company was largely unsuccessful and the industry only lasted for a few years.[5] The chimney was threatened to be demolished in 1973, by the Somerset County Council but was protected from demolition.[6][7] Because of the pollution the site supports a population of Lead Moss (Ditrichum plumbicola).[8]

References

  1. "Chimney at Former Lead Works on Smitham Hill, Priddy". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  2. "Chimney at NGR ST 5542 5461, Smitham Hill". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  3. "Harptree and Smitham Hill". British Geological Survey. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  4. "Mendip Lead Mining 1600 - 1900" (PDF). Your Paulton. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  5. Gough, J.W. (1967). The mines of Mendip. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.
  6. "East Harptree". Forestry Commission. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  7. Vallins, John (16 June 2009). "Somerset". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  8. Rumsey, Fred; Crouch, Helena (October 2010). "Ditrichum plumbicola Crundw. (lead-moss) in the Mendips" (PDF). Field Bryology (102): 3–9.

Coordinates: 51°17′16″N 2°38′22″W / 51.2879°N 2.6395°W / 51.2879; -2.6395

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