Monument record MDO38343 - Jonny Vizer's Pits, Post medieval chert quarries, Hardown Hill, Whitchurch Canonicorum

A series of post medieval and early 20th century chert quarries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs on the western end of Hardown Hill. Small-scale quarrying dates back to the medieval period and these quarriesd were known as Jonny Vizer's pits in the 18th century onwards. The modern quarries with associated trackways were digitally plotted during the Marshwood Vale NMP.

Area of small-scale chert quarry operated from the Mediaeval period onwards. A terrier of 1769 records the works as `Johnny Vizer's Pits', and they produced both building stone and roadstone. The main workings consist of an uneven ground surface within which are a series of shallow scrapes. There is a small modern roadstone quarry to the South-West. <1>

A series of post medieval and early 20th century chert quarries are visible as earthworks on aerial photographs on the western end of Hardown Hill <2>. Small-scale quarrying dates back to the medieval period and these quarries were known as Jonny Vizer's pits from the 18th century onwards. The modern quarries with associated trackways were digitally plotted during the Marshwood Vale NMP.

National Record of the Historic Environment, 1466182 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<1> English Heritage, 1997, Monument Protection Programme, Step 3 Report: Quarrying Industry 3.2 Additional Site Assessments
Lancashire University Archaeological Unit,., Dorset 1 (Serial). SDO17683.

‘Area of small scale quarrying from medieval period onwards. The workings are recorded on a terrier of 1769 and marked as ‘Johnny Vizer’s Pits’ on the modern 1:10,000 map; they produced both building stone and roadstone. The main area of workings consists of an uneven ground surface within which a series of shallow scrapes are visible; these are very overgrown with bracken. There is a small modern roadstone quarry to the south-west; adits are also present here, but could not be located during the current assessment.’

<2> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RP 3175-6 (Aerial Photograph). SDO14698.

Record last edited

Aug 18 2025 4:45PM