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Industrial archaeology is a special term which
describes the remains of former industries. It
can include buildings, machinery and elements of the landscape that
have been altered by industrial processes. There
is extensive evidence of the AONB's industrial past from the
prehistoric to post-medieval period. Remains of
extractive industries including lead, iron and coal mining together
with stone and evidence of lime working can all be found.
Much industrial archaeology is on privately owned land and the
landowner may not even be aware that it is there.
Look out for:
- former industrial buildings which can contain evidence of their
past use such as fragments of machinery, holes in the walls for
drive shafts, or marks where machinery once stood.
- shaft mounds and spoil heaps can provide information about the
history of mining and often create a unique habitat for specialised
and rare plants
- many industires used water power of which dams and leats often
survive
- the structure of dry stone walls, style of gate posts, stone
steps and stone flagged paths may indicate the line of ancient
boundaries.
If you do have industrial archaeology on your land you can
look after it by:
- avoid digging into shaft mounds and spoil heaps
- don't use quarries and mine shafts to dump rubbish
- consider recording or preserving features on buildings before
making changes
- if you have old machinery on your property find out if its
important before removing it
- avoid making changes to water courses and dams as this may
damage the archaeology and result in the erosion of features
- seek archaeological advice before planting trees or hedges or
erecting fences
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