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Summary

Band of tin streamworks on both banks of the upper reaches of the Drizzlecombe Brook. Partially overbuilt by the remains of the 19th century Eylesbarrow Tin Mine

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/377
• Old SAM Ref: 34467

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STREAMWORK (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD)

Full description

Worth, R. H., 1930, Proceedings at the Annual Meeting, 73 (Article in Serial). SDV231168.

At Drizzlecombe Burrows in the Plym valley a series of parallel ridges have been formed from deposits of rejected rock from tinworking.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, 4354 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1985, Aerial Photograph Project (Dartmoor) - Dartmoor Pre-NMP (Cartographic). SDV319854.

South-west to north-east band of streamwork on both banks of the upper reaches of the Drizzlecombe Brook. Partially overbuilt by the remains of the Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. Fed by several leats. Western termination at SX59256765, eastern termination SX59936805. Area covers approximately 3.5 hectares.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 157219 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th May 2003. An area of eluvial streamworks. The dumps predominantly lie across the contour and many are shown on the Robertson plan.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 5, Figure 2 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

Documentation for tin working in the area survives from as early as the 16th century but it is almost certain that work would have been taking place here from at least the 12th century. One writer has argued the case for tinworking taking place here in the Prehistoric period. The remains left by the activities of Medieval tinners are most extensive in the Upper Plym Valley and those at Drizzlecombe cover circa 17 hectares.

Gerrard, S., 2002, Streamworks (Report - non-specific). SDV254032.

Streamwork 880 metres south-south-west of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine.

English Heritage, 2005, Industrial Survey Information (Report - Survey). SDV346396.

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

Eylesbarrow Tin Mine contains a broad range of different forms of evidence relating to prospecting, exploitation and processing of both tin deposits and lodes. The monument includes the core part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine, together with adjacent tin streamworks, earlier mining remains, archaeological remains of prehistoric and historic date including a stone hut circle settlement, pillow mounds and field systems situated on the southern slopes of Eylesbarrow overlooking the valley of the River Plym. Tin extraction within the area later to become known as Eylesbarrow Tin Mine probably dates back to at least the 12th century, although it is not until the 16th century that specific documentation is known. Some of the earthworks visible within the monument will certainly be the result of mining activity before the better documented phases of the 19th century. A large number of different types of earthworks and structures relating to tin extraction and processing survive within the monument. Amongst the earliest are two areas of streamworking, both of which have been damaged by later mining activity. The streamworks were formed during the extraction of tin deposits using water to separate the heavy tin from the lighter silts, sands and gravels. Once the streamworks were abandoned, the tinners turned their attentions to the lode tin within the area.

Ordnance Survey, 2013, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV350786.

Streamwork earthworks outlined on modern mapping.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6239 - Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine
• EDV4966 - Survey of Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor. The Eylesbarrow archaeological landscape
• EDV7443 - Condition survey of archaeological sites in Ringmoor Training Area
• EDV7569 - Condition survey of Ringmoor Down training area
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey: EH Project (Feb 2001 - Dec 2002)
• EDV8227 - Ringmoor Training Area: Monument Baseline Condition Survey

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