Bell pit

A bell pit is a primitive method of mining coal, iron ore, or other minerals lying near the surface.

[1] The bottom of the shaft is enlarged and a sloping roof is created as the desired mineral and surrounding rock is removed – giving its name because the pit in cross section resembles a bell.

[1] This type of mine was in use in prehistoric times, the Middle Ages,[3] and a few continued in use until the early 20th century in the region around Ford, Northumberland.

Such pits are common at prehistoric flint working sites such as Grime's Graves in Norfolk and also in the coal mining areas of Yorkshire, the Forest of Dean,[4] and Leicestershire.

Bell pits were not an efficient way of extracting minerals as they only partially exploited the resources.