The Black Mountain

[Dan00001]

I’d say, and not because I sell courses it can be beneficial to do some sort of course. The structure of the NNAS courses is such that it teaches only relevant map and compass skills and strategies of navigation. I have a gold course there beginning of October and happy to discuss if you have questions. DM me is you like.

Thank you, will keep that in mind!

 

[Falstaff]

Interesting, it looks like a horseshoe sheep fold with a straight stonewall "bar" across the open front, leaving only 2 small entrances. Then surrounding it is a larger rectangular enclosed space, looks like stone walls on four sides. However, it's on the highest point around, on rock, an unlikely position for sheep herding/use.
It seems quite dark in the centre of the shoe. Might it have been a old form of lime kiln to burn limestone to produce quicklime?
There are a lot of round holes in the area nearby, presumably either sinkholes or man-made excavations. That shape protects the fire/temperature from the wind, and the two entrances enable rudimentary fuelling and air control to a fire. You'd want it high up due to the fumes. This link seems to (sort of) support my cock-eyed idea.

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/iha-preindustrial-lime-kilns/heag222-pre-industrial-lime-kilns/

There are some sketches of similar shapes both Roman, and later farming agricultural clamps (to produce fertiliser). Similar to charcoal and brick clamps but possibly not with a closed in roof, all pre-industrial.

So your mission, should you choose to take it...
looking for any signs of burning, random chunks of burnt or unburnt limestone, or a lot of stone around it to build/strip away kiln walls. ?
Later more industrial lime kilns: Lime kilns at Herbert's Quarry or the Black Mountain Quarries in the western Brecon Beacons Bannau Brycheiniog https://heneb.org.uk/archive/dyfed/calch/index.html

 

[nigelp]

Yes that's the one! Oh that's interesting, as you can see on Google it's shaped like a horseshoe which peaked my interest. Will have to have a look next time.

You can find it on the ground. I use it sometimes as a feature to go and have a look at.

 

[nigelp]

A more typical sheep fold