| General Comments: |
|
Quarrying must have taken place in this area as early as the mid 16th century, since there are records that stone from Limpley Stoke was brought up the river to Longleat House in Wiltshire (Clifton-Taylor & Simmons 1987: 75). Bathampton quarries and those on Combe Down were owned by Ralph Allen (a local businessman). He opened the ones on Bathampton Down in 1730. These quarries had both shallow and underground workings above a steep slope on the eastern side of the hill. The area had yielded all its high class stone by about 1810 (Clifton-Taylor & SImmons 1987: 72). Quarrying continued for a further 30 years between 1808 - 1840 before being closed (Stanier 2000: 73).
|
Options