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Summary

Ferro Ceramic Mine to the north-east of Shaugh Bridge which operated briefly in the late 19th century and was disused by 1886. It was also known as the Dewerstone Iron Mine

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthwork and walling remains of a 19th century Ferro Ceramic Mine to the north-east of Shaugh Bridge with two shafts and a smithy

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SW/23
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SW/35
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MINE (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Hunt, R., Mineral Statistics (Unknown). SDV241727.

Mine, ferro ceramic. Iron china clay.

Williams, J., 1862, Cornwall and Devon Mining Directory (Monograph). SDV242424.

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

'Ferro Ceramic Mine (Disused)' shown on 19th century map with two 'Shafts' to the north-east and east and a 'Smithy' to the south-east. An 'Aqueduct' is shown running east-south-east to the River Plym.

Collins, J. H., 1895, Mineralogy of Cornwall and Devon (Monograph). SDV242421.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Mine shown as '(Disused)' on early 20th century map and the two shafts are marked 'Old Shaft'.

Collins, J. H., 1912, Observations on the West of England Mining Region (Monograph). SDV323594.

H. M. Stationary Office, 1929, Abandoned Mines (Monograph). SDV215700.

Ramsden, J. V., 1952, Notes on the Mines of Devonshire, 90, 94,Figure 1 (Article in Serial). SDV60737.

Harris, H., 1968, Industrial Archaeology of Dartmoor, 208 (Monograph). SDV149229.

The ore from the Ferro Ceramic Mine was used in brick making, but was probably of poor quality.

Booker, F., 1979, Shaugh Bridge Works, File 26 (Correspondence). SDV158972.

Letter of 30 April 1979. Little is known about this mine which is largely undocumented.

Le Messurier, B., 1982, Iron Mine (Worksheet). SDV345792.

Site visited in February 1982. Extensive ruined walls situated in open woodland.

National Trust, 1984, Goodameavy, Devon, 13 (Report - Survey). SDV337035.

This mine is recorded as being a ferro-ceramic mine, an uncommon type of mine in this area. On the ground red colouration indicates waste ferrous materials and various structures are apparently associated with the ferro-ceramic processes.

Fletcher, M., 2000, The Ferro Ceramic Mine and Shaugh Brickworks, Meavy, Figure 3 (Report - Survey). SDV360342.

Scale survey 1:500 was undertaken by English Heritage in 1999 to identify the standing remains for management and conservation purposes of the Ferro Ceramic Mine and the adjoining Brickworks. Evidence of the brief industrial episode at the abandoned iron mine to the north-east of Shaugh Bridge is fossilised in the form of ruined structures and earthworks. Two shafts and their associated adits were identified along with the smithy and working area. The origins of the mine are unknown but authority 'to mine and search' for iron was granted in a lease issued to the Ferro Ceramic Company in 1870. The terms of the lease and the assets of The Dewerstone Iron Mine, as it was then called, are described in an auction inventory of 1883. It was shown as 'disused' by 1886. The good quality iron ore was apparently exported while the inferior iron ore was used in the manufacture of bricks at the adjoining brickworks.

Ordnance Survey, 2012, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV348725.

'Mine (disused)' shown on modern mapping with a 'Shaft (disused)' shown 75 metres to the north-east. Map object based on this source.

Sources / Further Reading

• Monograph: Harris, H.. 1968. Industrial Archaeology of Dartmoor. Industrial Archaeology of Dartmoor. A5 Hardback. 208.
• Correspondence: Booker, F.. 1979. Shaugh Bridge Works. Letter. File 26.
• Monograph: H. M. Stationary Office. 1929. Abandoned Mines. Abandoned Mines. Unknown.
• Unknown: Hunt, R.. Mineral Statistics. Mineral Statistics. Unknown.
• Monograph: Collins, J. H.. 1895. Mineralogy of Cornwall and Devon. Mineralogy of Cornwall and Devon. Unknown.
• Monograph: Williams, J.. 1862. Cornwall and Devon Mining Directory. Cornwall and Devon Mining Directory. Unknown.
• Monograph: Collins, J. H.. 1912. Observations on the West of England Mining Region. Observations on the West of England Mining Region. Unknown.
• Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
• Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880 - 1899. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
• Report - Survey: National Trust. 1984. Goodameavy, Devon. National Trust Archaeological Survey Report. A4 Stapled + Digital. 13.
• Worksheet: Le Messurier, B.. 1982. Iron Mine. Worksheet.
• Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2012. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital).
• Report - Survey: Fletcher, M.. 2000. The Ferro Ceramic Mine and Shaugh Brickworks, Meavy. English Heritage. Figure 3.
• Article in Serial: Ramsden, J. V.. 1952. Notes on the Mines of Devonshire. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 84. A5 Hardback. 90, 94,Figure 1.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7345 - The Ferro Ceramic Mine and Shaugh Brickworks, Meavy

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