- published: 02 Mar 2012
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A bell pit is a primitive method of mining coal, iron ore or other minerals where the coal or ore lies near the surface.. A shaft is sunk to reach the mineral which is excavated by miners transported to the surface by a winch and removed by means of a bucket, much like a well. It gets its name because the pit in cross section resembles a bell.
Typically, no supports were used and mining continued outwards until the cavity became too dangerous or collapsed at which point another mine was started, often in close proximity. This type of mine was in use in prehistoric times, the Middle Ages and a few continued in use until the early 20th century in the region around Ford, Northumberland. Such pits are common at prehistoric flint working sites such as Grimes Graves in Norfolk.
Bell pits often flooded due to a lack of a drainage system. This, plus the lack of support and the likelihood of collapse, meant they had a limited lifespan. The remains of bell pits can sometimes be identified by depressions left when they collapsed or small piles of spoil.
Bell may refer to:
Pit or PIT may refer to:
George and Ira Gershwin
A foggy day, in London town
It had me low, and it had me down
I viewed the morning, with much alarm
The British Museum, had lost its charm
How long I wondered, could this thing last
But the age of miracles, it hadn't past
And suddenly, I saw you standing right there