Industrial Archaeology in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB

 Industry in the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB has tended to be small scale and local as befits a predominantly rural area, utilising local geology and materials. This paints a picture of small scale local industry serving local villages and farms and the surrounding market towns.The industrial archaeology of the AONB is an understudied component of the areas history. There are few post Medieval industrial sites recorded in the county based sites and monuments record. Nearly all former industrial activity has now ceased with the exception of limited stone quarrying in the AONB.

The industrial development of the AONB in the 20th Century has followed a slightly different course, with the expansion of small scale commercial endeavors situated away from villages and farm complexes. This includes a wide range of activities including modern telecommunications, game farms, granaries and commercial chicken farming.

Archaeological evidence relating to former industrial activity in the AONB can be grouped into three categories: -

1. The generation of power through the harnessing of water and wind, and the exploitation of that power to grind corn, to make cloth, and to pump water.
2. The exploitation of raw materials through quarrying for building material and for the creation of secondary products.
3. The manufacturing of brick, tile and lime.
Many of these processes have a long history, quarrying for example can be dated back to the Iron and Romano-British periods. However until the 19th century and the coming of the Railways these industrial activities tended to be small scale in operation and to serve primarily local needs. During the industrial revolution larger scale industrial sites were developed including brick and tile works and cloth factories, which could exploit the new markets provided by the railways. For more information visit http://www.historiclandscape.co.uk/exploring_industry.html