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Summary

A probable 19th century wheelpit situated near the south edge of the Birch Tor Lode at Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mines. An archaeological field survey in 2001 recorded the wheel pit as measuring approximately 13 metres by 2.2 metres and up to 2.6 metres in depth. It contained tumbled masonry although the structure itself remains more or less intact. On the lower end a neatly arched exit lobby survives which diverted water away from the wheelpit after passing over the wheel. The water wheel provided motion to a set of flat rods which powered pumping equipment in shafts 120 and 200 metres to the east within the openwork.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021340: Tinworks, field systems, settlements, warren, cairns and a stone alignment at Headland Warren

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68SE316
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1339493

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• TRANSMISSION RODS (Constructed, XIX - 1801 AD (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))
• WHEEL PIT (Constructed, XIX - 1801 AD (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Feature shown on 19th century map.

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

Long narrow rectangular feature shown on early 20th century map.

Broughton, D. G., 1968-1969, The Birch Tor & Vitifer tin mining complex (Article in Serial). SDV291528.

Butler, J., 1991, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two - The North, 22-5, Map 24, Figure 24.5 (Monograph). SDV219155.

Wheel pit shown as 'WP' at 'Birch Tor and Vitifer Mines' to the north-east of Site '12'.

Newman, P., 2002, Headland Warren and the Birch Tor and Vitifer Mines (Report - Survey). SDV363213.

(29/03/2001) SX 6806 8110. A stone wheelpit which powered pumping equipment at the Birch Tor and Vitifer mines, which worked in the period between approximately the 1780s and 1914. The wheelpit is sited near the south edge of the Birch Tor Lode. It measures approximately 13m by 2.2m and is up to 2.6m deep. It contains some tumbled masonry although the structure itself remains more or less intact. On the lower end a neatly arched exit lobby survives which diverted water away from the wheelpit after passing over the wheel. The wheel provided motion to a set of flat rods which powered pumping equipment in shafts 120 and 200m to the east within the openwork.
Wheelpit depicted by D.G. Broughton 1968.

Ordnance Survey, 2022, Mastermap 2022 (Cartographic). SDV364674.

Rectangular feature shown on modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7139 - Headland Warren and the Birch Tor and Vitifer Mines Survey (Ref: A1/20/2001, A1/34/2002)

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