ramblingon

Visited the Fussells Iron Works near Mells in Somerset. Operating in the 18th and 19th century’s the foundry manufactured agricultural edge tools – billhooks, scythes, etc. but not exclusively so. For further information visit the Fussells Iron Industry website.

Went over to Templeton’s to assist the quest to extend the South Shaft. Unfortunately the winch was out of action so had to climb the 80+ metres of ladder with my kit (drill, batteries and other sundry items) on my back. Not so bad down but requiring some more effort back up! Another satisfying session.

Partially excavated prehistoric pot (Early Iron Age) on a site near Blandford in Dorset. Curiously was unable to see any cut to the feature, the pot was quite high in the subsoil and amongst some large flint nodules and it is suggested this might have afforded some protection from the plough. Scale 0.5 metre.

Simmonds, V. 2014. An overview of the archaeology of Mendip caves and karst. Mendip Cave Register & Archive (MCRA).

I’ve spent some time beavering away at putting together ‘An overview of the archaeology of Mendip caves and karst’ that is freely available online in the archaeology section of the Mendip Cave Register & Archive at www.mcra.org.uk

Reflections in the pool at Smitham Chimney, Harptree Wood, Mendip – the last of its kind still standing.

November 16th 2014: spotted on a Sunday morning stroll in Harptree Combe.

Pestle Puffball (Calvatia excipuliformis)

On the same walk I admired some fine early Victorian engineering, the aquaduct built c.1840.

A Sunday morning walk along the top of Cheddar Gorge at the end of summer time!

Bake Hole, Cheddar NGR ST 4662 5420

Bracket Fungi, Velvet Bottom. I would suggest Laquered Bracket Ganoderma luciderm

A view of Blackdown looking over the combe from Burrington Ham on a sunny September afternoon.

Compton Martin Ochre Mine, Mendip Hills, Somerset.

Read’s Cavern, Burrington, Mendip. 3rd August 2014. In the very dry stream entrance into the main chamber.

On a walk that started at the bottom of East Twin stopped at Read’s Cavern to practice some underground photography for a while. The walk then continued up the hill to the trig on Beacon Batch before returning to the van parked at East Twin.

While out on a cycle tour of the Mendip AONB stopped in Burrington Combe to peer into Aveline’s Hole. This cave contained a number of human remain and, according to Jodie Lewis, is one of the most important Early Mesolithic burial sites in Europe.