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Summary

The Lee Moor Clay Works opened in 1830 and expanded into the 20th century. The evolution of the works on Shaugh Moor is depicted on late-19th to mid-20th maps and the mid-20th century arrangement and extent is visible on aerial photographs of 1946. The historic extractive landscape was largely destroyed by the later-20th century expansion of Lee Moor Quarry.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/81

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) QUARRY (XIX to XXI - 1830 AD (Between) to 2009 AD (Between))
• CHINA CLAY WORKS (XIX to XXI - 1830 AD (Between) to 2009 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145823.

Plotted by rchm app 1985.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145824.

Minchinton, w. /tda/(1973)24/industrial archaeology in devon.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV145825.

Des=rchm app 1985.

Minchinton, W., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV2310.

Quarry. The lee moor clay works were opened in 1830 and have expanded over the years. They include pits at wotter, hemerdon, shaugh, heddon, brisworthy and smallhanger (minchinton).

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

Lee Moor Clay Works are depicted.

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

An expanded Lee Moor Clay Works are depicted.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1190, RAF/106G/UK/1190 RP 3256-3257 27-FEB-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363067.

Extensive earthwork pits, mounds and structures are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 2296-2297 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Extensive earthwork pits, mounds and structures are visible.

Royal Air Force, 1950, RAF/540/335, RAF/540/335/PFF0 0081 22-APR-1950 (RAF 30060) (Aerial Photograph). SDV363165.

Extensive earthwork pits, mounds and structures are visible.

Ordnance Survey, 1953-1969, 1953-1969 National Grid OS A edition imperial (Cartographic). SDV352727.

A further expanded Lee Moor Clay Works are depicted.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX5662 01-JUN-2002 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

The mid-20th Lee Moor Clay Works were destroyed by later 20th century open cast quarrying.

Kirkham, G., 2014, United Kingdom china-clay bearing grounds: mineral resource archaeological assessment, 9, 26, 27, 30, 34-35, 36, 38, 54, 63, 65, 81, 103-4, 106 Figs 42, 68, 87 (Report - Assessment). SDV359636.

Clay working began at Lee Moor in 1833, initially producing ceramic pipes and fire bricks. A planned settlement was established here with terraces of houses, gardens and allotment together with a methodist chapel and a co-operative store. The Lee Moor Tramway passed through it. Today the commerical production of china-clay is still focused in the Lee Moor area.
Evidence for clay working such as pits and tips and infrastructure remains a strongly visible element in the area.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2021, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

The evolution of the Lee Moor Clay Works on Shaugh Moor is depicted on late-19th to mid-20th maps. The mid-20th century arrangement and extent is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 and corresponds closely with that depicted on the 1953-1969 National Grid OS A edition imperial. As such, the quarry earthworks and structures were not transcribed by the survey.
All components of the historic extractive landscape were destroyed by the later-20th century expansion of Lee Moor Quarry.
The monument polygon defines the mid-20th century extent of the clay works.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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