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Summary

Possible tramway to the west of the main buildings forming part of the 19th century Eylesbarrow Tin Mine

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 438809
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/27/52
• Old SAM Ref: 34467(P)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• TRAMWAY (XVIII to XIX - 1750 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 157273 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th May 2002. Tramway 570 metres south-west of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. A 2 metre wide levelled area carried on a slight embankment in places and in others survives as a slight cutting. Tramway carrying ore from shaft. Grass, bracken, heather and rushes.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 37, figure 2 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

Several features at the mine were accessed by tramways for the transportation of mined ore between the shafthead and the dressing floors. A possible though somewhat fragmentary tramway runs between the main track just north-east of the large reservoir and Shaft number 10 which may not be a shaft and appears to date from an earlier period of exploitation at the site.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, Figure 2 (Article in Serial). SDV231130.

A possible though somewhat fragmentary tramway associated with Eylesborough Mine runs between the main track just north of the reservoir and the shaft at SX59636822.

English Heritage, 2005, Survey Information (miscellaneous date) (Report - Survey). SDV345855.

Linear feature shown on survey.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Feature visible on aerial photograph.

English Heritage, 2013, Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains (Schedule Document). SDV231131.

The 19th century Eylesbarrow Tin Mine opened in 1814 and continued until 1852. During this time several companies were formed to run the mine and most failed to make a profit. Eylesbarrow's importance stems from its unrivalled array of 19th century mining remains making it the largest and most informative example of a large scale water powered tin mine in Britain. At least 27 shafts and five adits were cut to reach the tin lodes, seven whim platforms and two water powered engine wheels were built to power the lifting and pumping machinery, a series of tramways were made to carry the ore to six separate stamping mills and, to complete the picture, a smelting house was constructed to smelt the processed tin from the stamping mills. The size of the operation is further emphasised by the large number of ancillary buildings constructed to serve the mine. Amongst these are a count house, dormitory accommodation, blacksmith's shop, powder houses, sample house and various storage buildings.

National Monument Record, 2014, Pastscape, 1300619 (Website). SDV355682.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4966 - Survey of Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor. The Eylesbarrow archaeological landscape
• EDV6239 - Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey: EH Project (Feb 2001 - Dec 2002)

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