History of moorland workings

[sean1981]

We had a talk about the quarrying of stone last week and where that took place either is self evident or in some cases not so much because of the filling in of deep sites.

Now if we use the well known satellite viewing program on the internet, and look at moorland - say heading west from our area (it seems to be the same when you look at many other moors) you see strips of a different colour. A bit like a patchwork of strips. Now I wonder if this is the remains of scars made when peat was taken in earlier times. It does not look to be cultivated or fenced in so I concluded that it must be peat taking.

Anyone have information, or a view?

[Andy Wade]

I would have said you'd be looking at a combination of:
Peat digging.
Controlled 'burning back' of sections for the promotion of new plant growth for Grouse moorland.
Land drain channels dug by the Water Board to divert rainwater towards reservoirs.
You'd have to look at all these on site and in context to get a proper idea of what they all are.

[sean1981]

Thanks Andy. Directly west from the reservoir in Stanbury, as you go over the border, you see such a patchwork that does not follow the herringbone pattern you expect if it is draining.

It is such a mixture of strips in various directions it does not look like burning or fencing off. That is why I concluded that peat digging might be the reason.

[Andy Wade]

Yes I'd agree, I think that peat digging would be the most likely reason.