See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

19th century Maria Shaft to the northeast of Wheal Russell Mine. Earthworks associated with this shaft are visible as a sub-circular pit and a curvilinear bank on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2010.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX47SW/530

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• SHAFT (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
• SPOIL HEAP (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

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

The earthworks correspond with a circular feature labelled as ‘Shaft’.

Ordnance Survey, 1884, Untitled Source (Cartographic). SDV336661.

Shown on 1884 map.

Ordnance Survey, 1906, Untitled Source (Cartographic). SDV336662.

Not marked as a shaft on 1906 map but it was evidently disused by that time.

Ordnance Survey, 1953, Untitled Source (Cartographic). SDV242410.

Shown as 'old shaft' on modern map.

Dines, H. G., 1956, The Metalliferous Mining Region of South West England, 674 (Monograph). SDV62852.

Maria Shaft. Does not appear to be connected with Russell United Mine just to northwest.

Weddell, P. J., 1984 - 1884, Untitled Source (Worksheet). SDV336663.

See worksheet for copy of 1906 map.

Environment Agency, 2000-2019, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Environment Agency LAST RETURN 17-JAN-2010 (Cartographic). SDV363954.

Earthworks of a sub-circular pit and a curvilinear bank are visible.

Buck, C., 2005, Wheal Russell Mine, Devon: Archaeological Assessment, 21 (Report - Assessment). SDV336659.

Maria Shaft (Site 6) shown on 19th century maps. The shaft was used in the late 19th century to wind ore from adjacent workings on the Main Lode & powered by flat rods from a water wheel on the south side of Impham valley. The survey at Wheal Russell Mine in 2005 found a circular stone wall 1.4 meters high round a 4m deep opening 3.8 meters x 2.5 meters. Remnants of the shaft spoil were on the east side of the shaft with a possible horse whim on the south side. Other details: Figs 5, 6, 8 & 10.

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 a sub-circular pit, circa 7 metres diameter, and a curvilinear bank, circa 5 metres wide, of a 19th century shaft and spoil heap are visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2010.
The visible earthworks correspond with a circular feature labelled as ‘Shaft’ on the late-19th century First Edition Ordnance Survey map and as ‘Shaft (disused)’ on the 2021 Ordnance Survey MasterMap.
The earthworks are not visible on other available aerial imagery.

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

The earthworks correspond with a circular feature labelled as ‘Shaft (disused)’.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4040 - Wheal Russell Mine, Devon: Archaeological Assessment
• EDV8345 - Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 1 (AI&M) (Ref: ACD2380)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.