Bibliography - Giles Swift
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Minepit Surveys 1: Excavation of two mine pits in Minepit Wood, Rotherfield, by Giles Swift, published 1982 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 2, article, pp.15-19) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

As part of research into the mining of iron ore in the Weald two minepits were excavated in July 1981 in Minepit Wood (TQ 521343). The pits were excavated in order to:
1. survey and record the section of a minepit,
2. determine the feasibility of discovering the profile of minepits by systematic probing.
The two pits were chosen for their accessibility as the excavation was carried out by a mechanical digger. Both were probed before excavation using a 5m probe.

Minepit Surveys 2: Survey of mine pits in Tugmore Shaw, Hartfield TC 458373, by Giles Swift, published 1982 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 2, article, p.19) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

These pits, 250 in total, occupying an area of approximately two hectares were surveyed and recorded by members of the WIRG field group during autumn and winter 1981. No system was apparent in the layout of the pits. The quite large area of undug ground between the pits may indicate that mining was taking place in woodland which needed to be preserved.

Minepit Surveys 3: Possible mines for the Roman Bloomery at Cansiron, by Giles Swift, published 1982 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 2, article, pp.20-21) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

Following the survey of minepits in Tugmore Shaw and considering the proximity of the Roman industrial site at Cansiron it seemed possible that the large quarries at Tugmore might be the source of iron ore for the Roman bloomeries.

Two Radiocarbon Dates for Minepits at Sharpthorne Brickworks, by Giles Swift, published 1986 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 6, article, pp.54-55, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559]   Download PDF

The Excavation of a Roman Tilery on Great Cansiron Farm, Hartfield, East Sussex, by David R. Rudling, Caroline Cartwright, Giles Swift, Sally Foster, John Shepherd, Pat Hinton and Fred Tebbutt, published November 1986 in Britannia (vol. 17, article, pp.191-230) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/501322]   View Online

During the winter of 1981/2 Giles Swift of the Wealden Iron Research Group discovered in a ploughed field on Great Cansiron Farm, Hartfield, East Sussex (TQ 45603835) an area of burnt clay and Roman tile, together with a few pieces of Roman pottery. The site, which lies close to a small stream, is located between an extensive Roman iron-working site to the south-west and possible large Roman iron-ore quarries to the north-east (FIG. 1). In advance of further plough damage, during the summer of 1982 the Field Archaeology Unit (Institute of Archaeology) undertook a trial excavation and survey in order to attempt to interpret and date the site more precisely. This work was funded by the Department of the Environment and East Sussex County Council. The 1982 investigations revealed a well-preserved Roman tile kiln and a rectangular floor of tile and burnt clay. Unfortunately extremely inclement weather during the second half of the excavation meant that it was impossible, given the time and resources available, to finish excavating either of these discoveries. The farmer, Mr Udell, kindly agreed to leave and plough around the excavation area and a second season of excavations was undertaken in 1983 thanks to the financial backing of East Sussex County Council and Keymer Handmade Clay Tiles of Burgess Hill, Sussex. In between the two excavations, staff of the Ancient Monuments Laboratory carried out a geophysical survey of the area to the west of the tile kiln.

Minepits at West Hoathly Brickworks, Sharpthorne, Sussex, by Bernard Worssam and Giles Swift, published 1987 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 7, article, pp.3-15, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506560]   Download PDF

The sections in the West Hoathly Brickworks quarry that are described in this paper are therefore of special importance in that they have revealed clearly the form and dimensions of a series of Wealden minepits, as well as the iron-ore seams to which the pits were dug.
The sections have been under observation by the writers since an initial visit to the quarry, in company with the late Mr C.F. Tebbutt, in 1983. A preliminary account gave radiocarbon dates of two samples of wood recovered from the filling of minepits.

Tugmore Shaw, Hartfield, by Giles Swift, published 1987 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 7, article, pp.21-24, ISSN: 0266-4402) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506560]   Download PDF

The survey of this wood by R.G. Houghton, A.R.I.B.A. has been previously described. Particularly noted were the path made up with blast-furnace slag, which appeared to be contemporary with, or earlier than, the minepits; and the open-cast workings, which were suggested as possible sources of ore for the Roman iron working site at Great Cansiron.

The Ashdown Forest area: agricultural change in the western High Weald from 1970 to 1988, by Brian Short, Sue Swift and Giles Swift, published June 1991 (29 pp., Sussex Rural Community Council, ISBN-10: 187385000X & ISBN-13: 9781873850008) accessible at: British Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries