Springwell, Mount Lane, ditches

During geophysical survey in 2016 and archaeological evaluation at Mount Lane in 2018, erractically-curving, long, deep but narrow post-medieval ditches were identified cutting the natural bedrock. The trenches were v-shaped in profile, up to 1.6m wide and up to 1.48m deep. The ditches were filled with a dark greyish brown sandy silt with frequent angular sandstone fragments (natural subsoil) and contained post-medieval pottery. The pottery included a piece of sponged ware of post 1840 date, a sherd from a grey salt-glazed stoneware jar and plain and transfer-printed whitewares of 19th or early 20th century date. The ditches may have been dug as a means of geological prospection on a hillside that was known to contain coal seams.