 Over the centuries the Brendon Hills have been mined for minerals, notably ironstone from which iron is extracted for making steel.During the 19th century this activity reached a peak with the West Somerset Mineral Railway, including an incline, being built to take the ore to Watchet from where it was sent to Ebbw Vale for smelting.The main mining operations ended when the mines were worked out towards the end of the 19th century.