Priddy Mineries
Priddy Mineries (grid reference ST547515) is a nature reserve previously run by the Somerset Wildlife Trust. It is in the village of Priddy, on the Mendip Hills in Somerset.
The reserve lies 3 miles north of Wells and 1.5 miles east of the village of Priddy. It is a site of 50 ha (123 acres) and is part of the Priddy Pools Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It is mostly grassland / heather mosaic with an area of valley mire and some nutrient-poor pools. The site is one of the beauty spots of Mendip partly due to these pools with the changing colours of the vegetation and the pines and the heather slopes. It is adjacent to Stock Hill woodland,[1] and one of the paths form part of the long distance national footpath, the Monarch's Way.
There are wide range of plant and small animal species. More than 20 species of dragonflies have been recorded, most of them breeding on site. In particular this is the only site in the Mendips for the Downy Emerald. There are numerous species of water bug including Water stick-insect (Ranatra linearis) and also all British species of amphibian, except for the Natterjack Toad, in good breeding numbers.
The site was worked for lead for many centuries, probably 2000 years until 1908, and the earlier workings were obliterated by those of the Victorians which left a legacy of pools, mounds and spoil heaps. The buddle pits and condensation flues are the remains of the Waldegrave lead works of that time. The site is of great interest to industrial archaeologists and also to cavers on account of the existence of Waldegrave swallet (opened 1934) and the possible rediscovery of Five Buddles Sink or Thomas Bushell’s Swallet (named after the man who first discovered it).[1]
A barrow or Tumulus can be found in the northern part of the Reserve.
References
- ^ a b "Priddy Mineries". Wildlife Trusts Somerset. Retrieved 17 July 2006.
- v
- t
- e
- Ashwick
- Axbridge
- Banwell
- Bishop Sutton
- Blagdon
- Bleadon
- Burrington
- Charterhouse
- Cheddar
- Chewton Mendip
- Churchill
- Compton Bishop
- Compton Martin
- Cross
- Draycott
- East Harptree
- Easton
- Hinton Blewett
- Hutton
- Leigh-on-Mendip
- Litton
- Oakhill
- Priddy
- Rodney Stoke
- Rowberrow
- Sandford
- Shepton Mallet
- Shipham
- Ubley
- Webbington
- Wells
- West Harptree
- Westbury-sub-Mendip
- Winscombe
- Wookey Hole
- Attborough Swallet
- Aveline's Hole
- Axbridge Ochre Mine
- Banwell Caves
- Banwell Ochre Caves
- Burrington Combe
- Charterhouse Cave
- Cheddar Gorge
- Compton Martin Ochre Mine
- Cox's Cave
- Eastwater Cavern
- Ebbor Gorge
- Fairy Cave Quarry
- GB Cave
- Goatchurch Cavern
- Gough's Cave
- Hunter's Hole
- Lamb Leer
- Longwood Swallet
- Manor Farm Swallet
- Picken's Hole
- Pierre's Pot
- Priddy Caves
- Read's Cavern
- Reservoir Hole
- Rhino Rift
- Rod's Pot
- Shatter Cave
- Shute Shelve Cavern
- Sidcot Swallet
- St Cuthbert's Swallet
- St. Dunstan's Well Catchment
- Stoke Lane Slocker
- Swildon's Hole
- Thrupe Lane Swallet
- Tyning's Barrow Swallet
- Upper Flood Swallet
- W/L Cave
- Wookey Hole Caves
- Asham Wood
- Axbridge Hill and Fry's Hill
- Banwell Caves
- Banwell Ochre Caves
- Barns Batch Spinney
- Blagdon Lake
- Bleadon Hill
- Brimble Pit and Cross Swallet Basins
- Burledge Hill
- Burrington Combe
- Chancellor's Farm
- Cheddar Complex
- Cheddar Reservoir
- Cheddar Wood
- Chew Valley Lake
- Cloford Quarry
- Compton Martin Ochre Mine
- Cook's Wood Quarry
- Crook Peak to Shute Shelve Hill
- Dolebury Warren
- Draycott Sleights
- Ebbor Gorge
- Emborough Quarries
- Harptree Combe
- Hobbs Quarry
- Holwell Quarries
- Kingdown and Middledown
- Lamb Leer
- Priddy Caves
- Priddy Pools
- Perch
- Rodney Stoke
- St. Dunstan's Well Catchment
- Sandpit Hole and Bishop's Lot
- Shiplate Slait
- Viaduct Quarry
- Windsor Hill Quarry
- Wurt Pit and Devil's Punchbowl
- Priddy Circles
- Cheddar Man
- Drove Cottage Henge
- Dolebury Warren
- Charterhouse Roman Town
- Fosse Way
- King John's Hunting Lodge, Axbridge
- Priddy Mineries
- Somerset Coalfield
- Somerset Coal Canal
- Cheddar Valley line
- East Somerset Railway
51°15′39″N 2°39′02″W / 51.26085°N 2.65059°W / 51.26085; -2.65059