Category: Articles

  • Tinners on Dartmoor

    Tinners on Dartmoor

    —

    by

    Murray Oates
    in

    Above photos show examples of various tinners’ remains, including “streamworks”, “openworks”, “lodeback workings”. Associated with streamworks are buildings called “tinners’ huts” (also called “lodges”). To crush the ore “stamps” were used. The stamps smashed the tin ore on “mortar” stones, creating a fine ore powder. This was processed, in “buddles”, to separate off the waste…

  • West Beam Calciner

    West Beam Calciner

    —

    by

    Pat Watson
    in , ,

    Photo 1: This photo shows the well constructed opening at the end of the calciner adjoining the cottage which was used for retrieving the burnt ore which would have been raked out from an opening to the left not now intact. Behind the substantial lintel is the separate sump referred to in the text. Above…

  • Westdown and Anderton mines

    Westdown and Anderton mines

    —

    by

    Stephen Holley
    in ,

    Westdown Mine West Down is situated north of the River Walkham and attempts to realise paying lodes between Lower Grenofen and the River Tavy were made around the 1840’s and 1850’s. The earliest documentation relating to this area dates to 1847 when some mining was being undertaken on the easterly extension of one of the…

  • Steeperton Mine

    Steeperton Mine

    —

    by

    Stephen Holley
    in ,

    According to Dines Steeperton Mine (aka Knack Mine) was an unsuccessful trial on the western slopes of Steeperton Tor.Helen Harris in her book the Industrial Archaeology of Dartmoor gives a little more information as follows:At the foot of the western slopes of Steeperton Tor are the remains of Steeperton Tor or Knack Mine which was…

  • Tin Workings around Chagford

    Tin Workings around Chagford

    —

    by

    Stephen Holley
    in ,

    CHAGFORD jump to: Greet Week Map Chagford has long been associated with the tin-mining industry of Dartmoor, being one of the three original 1305 Stannary Towns. Chagford served the north east of Dartmoor and as a Stannary Town acted as a centre for the taxing and marketing of tin in this district of Dartmoor. During…

  • Metheral Hill Contour Leat

    Metheral Hill Contour Leat

    —

    by

    Murray Oates
    in ,

    Discovered by myself but jointly investigated with Stephen Holley in late 2024. The leat comes off the Small Brook and would have flowed east to west following the contour for about 770 m. It’s about 1.2 m (4 feet) wide and in places (guessing) the leat bank is 1.2 m wide and about 0.5 m…