dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə sˈæksənnˈoːɹmən tə mˈɛdɪˌiːvəl pˈiəɹɪədz ðiːz pˈɪts wɜː dˈʌɡ tʊ əbtˈeɪn ˈaɪɚn ˈoːɹ, wˌɪtʃ wʌz ðˈɛn smˈɛltᵻd ɪn ɐ fˈɜːnɪs tə pɹədˈuːs ˈaɪɚn.
During the Saxon-Norman to Medieval periods these pits were dug to obtain iron ore, which was then smelted in a furnace to produce iron.