Smitham Chimney, East Harptree

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. http://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-32765-chimney-at-former-lead-works-on-smitham-h. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  2. ^ "Chimney at NGR ST 5542 5461, Smitham Hill". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=21930. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  3. ^ "Harptree and Smitham Hill". British Geological Survey. http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mendips/localities/harptree.html. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  4. ^ "Mendip Lead Mining 1600 - 1900" (PDF). Your Paulton. http://yourpaulton.org/Documents/MendipLeadMiningC16-19%282%29.pdf. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  5. ^ Gough, J.W. (1967). The mines of Mendip. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. 
  6. ^ "East Harptree". Forestry Commission. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/EnglandSomersetNoForestMendipWoodlandsEastHarptree. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  7. ^ Vallins, John (16 June 2009). "Somerset". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/16/country-diary-somerset. Retrieved 28 August 2011. 
  8. ^ Rumsey, Fred; Helena Crouch (October 2010). "Ditrichum plumbicola Crundw. (lead-moss) in the Mendips" (PDF). Field Bryology (102): 3–9.