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Summary

Earthworks of sub-circular, sub-oval and irregularly shaped pits and banks, interpreted variously as extractive pits, open works, shafts and spoil heaps of post-medieval or 19th century mine workings, are visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 2005 and 2016. The workings had probably passed out of use by the late 19th century and were possibly associated with Devon and Courtenay Mine.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
• SHAFT (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
• SPOIL HEAP (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

One of the earthwork pits corresponds with a circular feature labelled as ‘Shaft’.

Environment Agency, 2000-2019, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Environment Agency LAST RETURN 22-FEB-2005; 15-FEB-2016 (Cartographic). SDV363954.

Earthworks of sub-circular, sub-oval and irregularly shaped pits and banks are visible.

NERC, 2013, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) Tellus: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Tellus LAST RETURN 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013 (Cartographic). SDV363955.

Earthworks of sub-circular, sub-oval and irregularly shaped pits and banks are visible.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2020-2021, Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 1 (AI&M project) (Interpretation). SDV363945.

Earthworks of sub-circular, sub-oval and irregularly shaped pits and banks are visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured between 2005 and 2016.
The earthworks are dispersed across an area of circa 16 hectares within Birch Wood. They are characterised by pits of between 2-7 metres across, although larger pits up to 38 metres long are also present. Several of the pits to the south-west at circa SX46747146 are elongated in form. Many of the pits are also associated with banks. An additional area of pits visible to the north at SX47057204 on the River Tavy floodplain are of uncertain origin and so have not been individually transcribed, but they have been defined by an extent of area polygon.
With exception of one of the pits that possibly corresponds with a ‘Shaft’ (MDV79955), the earthworks do not correspond with any features depicted in this location on the late 19th century First Edition Ordnance Survey map. Earthworks and structures labelled as ‘Devon & Courtenay Mine (Copper, disused)’ (MDV4073) are, however, depicted in proximity to the east.
The earthworks are therefore interpreted as extractive pits, open works, shafts and spoil heaps of post-medieval or 19th century mine workings that were possibly associated with Devon and Courtenay Mine. The workings had probably passed out of use by the late 19th century. Earthworks of two extractive pits and spoil heaps recorded to the west (MDV129281) may also be associated.
The earthworks are not visible on other available aerial imagery owing to dense tree cover.

Ordnance Survey, 2021, MasterMap 2021 (Cartographic). SDV364015.

Several shafts are indicated in this location.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8345 - Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 1 (AI&M) (Ref: ACD2380)

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