Potash pit

[1] The alkaline solution produced by the ashes and added quicklime could be filtered to remove particles and once the required alkalinity was reached fats were added to produce a soft soap for the scouring or degreasing of the wool as a vital step in the production of wool for spinning into yarn.

Many potash pits were built in or near areas of suitable deciduous woodlands[1] and as such they are an important landscape features indicating both the processing of wool and the presence of a suitable hardwood woodland present at the site or nearby at the time that potash pits were in use.

A tunnel fireplace was required to draw in the air for the burning conversion of the birch, bracken, etc.

[1] As a landscape feature, the remains of potash pits are superficially similar in appearance and location to Q-pits that were constructed to make white coal for use in smelting lead.

Saw pits were constructed in areas of woodland also, however they were rectangular in shape and are easily distinguished from the aforementioned.