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Summary

Thought to have been the first inclined plane railway mine shaft at Wheal Friendship; one of three water-powered inclined shafts sunk at the mine, this was the first inclined railway shaft at any British metalliferous mine (constructed 1807-1808). After 1826 it was converted from a plate railway to an edge railway. 'Old shaft' is depicted on the late 19th century historic map.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Structural remains of buildings and machinery, as well as earthwork and buried remains of features relating to the Wheal Friendship Mine, Mary Tavy, worked between 1700-1925

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX57NW/82/17
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• INCLINED PLANE (Constructed, XIX - 1807 AD to 1808 AD? (Between))
• MINE SHAFT (Constructed, XIX - 1807 AD to 1808 AD? (Between))

Full description

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

'Old shaft' is depicted on the late 19th century historic map.

Richardson, P. H. G., 1992, The Mines of Dartmoor and the Tamar Valley after 1913, 36-47, figure 5 (Article in Serial). SDV323598.

Old shaft at Wheal Friendship Mine.

Waterhouse, R., 2017, The Tavistock Canal. Its History and Archaeology, 433-436, fig 12.14 (Monograph). SDV361789.

The first inclined railway shaft at any British metalliferous mine was completed here in 1807-1808, under the direction of John Taylor. Its success in reducing production costs contributed directly to the subsequent installation of two more such shafts on the mine and eventually two others in the district at Wheal Crebor and Bedford United Mines.
The 1808 inclined shaft started in the bottom of the Cholwell Valley, just south of Mary Tavy Bridge, descending westwards for 450 fathoms down to the 112 fathom level of the mine. It was operational in 1826 (when described by Dutch engineers).
The plateway was converted to an edge railway after 1826; it appears in that form in the only known illustration of it (fig 12.14).
Two other water-powered incline shafts were sunk at Wheal Friendship. Taylor's Inclined Shaft (MDV104355), whose portal was close to that of the first incline, was commenced in 1826 and came into use around 1828. A third inclined shaft further up the hill to the east, known as Brenton's Inclined Shaft (MDV56132), was commenced in 1834 and was in use by around 1836. This followed the underlie of the main lode, descending from surface beside the road south-east of Brenton's Engine Shaft in a northerly direction at about 45 degrees down to the 100 fathom level.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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