Priddy Mineries Nature Reserve, Somerset

The Mendip Hills have been a centre for lead mining activities ever since Roman times, continuing until the early 20th century, and one of the busiest areas was just east of Priddy, alongside what is now the B3134, Old Bristol Road. Lead ore was extracted from seams in the conglomerate bedrock (from the Mercia Mudstone Group) at Chewton Lead Mine, first mentioned in 1541, then processed a short distance south at St Cuthbert's Lead Works.

Operations at Priddy continued until 1908, after which all structures were removed and the land reverted to a semi-natural state, though retaining much evidence of the mining in the form of shafts, pits, pools, foundations, tracks and a leat. The industrial heritage has helped create a range of habitats, particularly good for wildlife; the site has a patchwork of calcareous grassland, heath, valley mire, fen and open water, and even the heavy metal contamination in some places is helpful, colonised by uncommon, lead-tolerant plants, in particular spring sandwort and alpine pennycress.


The old mining area was for some time managed by Somerset Wildlife Trust as Priddy Mineries Nature Reserve, and now seems to be owned by the local council. This protected area spans nearly a mile, on the west side of the road, while to the east is a 20th-century conifer plantation, Stockhill Wood; at the time of the mining all this area was grassy, treeless moorland. The reserve is largely coincident with the Priddy Pools Site of Special Scientific Interest. A parking area, on the east side of the road, serves both the wood and the mineries.

The Reserve

The main path into the Priddy Mineries starts just north of the Stockhill Wood parking place, mostly following the southwards course of a tramway that once linked the two mine sites. Another short path runs north to the shallower of two areas of open water, Waldegrave Pool, which was dug in the 1850s to store water for use in the processing of lead slag. The remains of the leat can be seen to the west, leading to the site of Chewton Mine, about 1000 feet south, now a series of earthen mounds, once a group of stone buildings. Past here, the former tramway continues south alongside a more overgrown area to the second pond, Mineries Pool, also made in the mid 19th century, to supply water for secondary processing of old ore. South of here the path comes close to the site of St Cuthbert's Lead Works, a larger operation than the mine, once a sizeable cluster of buildings; all have long since been removed, and the site is overgrown. Two other features of note hereabouts are Fair Lady Well, a small, chambered pool of medieval origin, and St Cuthbert's Swallet, entrance to one of the largest cave systems in the country.

Wildlife

Six out of the UK's seven species of amphibian can be found in the Priddy Mineries, in and around the pools; all three newts (smooth, palmate, great crested), both frogs (common, marsh) and the common toad - the only one missing is the natterjack toad. Reptiles here are grass snake, adder and common lizard. Over 20 species of dragonfly and damselfly have been observed, together with many moths, butterflies and birds.