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Summary

A pre-1700 tin openwork situated on the west slope of Challacombe Down. An archaeological field survey in 1990 recorded a linear feature forking into two. One fork takes the form of a V-shaped trench measuring between 2.5 and 5.5 metres wide. It is 0.7 to 2.5 metres deep becoming narrower and shallower on its way uphill. The other fork is also V-shaped and measures between 5 - 6 metres wide and 0.7 to 2.9 metres deep. To the south of the north arm are the remains of probable small reservoir comprising a silted linear depression measuring 11 metres by 4 metres wide and 0.5 metres deep. It has a retaining bank of upcast, on average 4 metres wide and 1.5 metres high, on its lower, west side which curves around the north end of the depression. A shallow linear channel, 0.8 metres wide and 0.2 metres deep, leads into the reservoir from a stream 60 metres to the southeast and is probably a feeder leat.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021393: Medieval strip field system, tinworks, part of a prehistoric settlement, a cairn and reave on Challacombe Down

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX67NE112
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 915481
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX67NE/130

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (Constructed, Early Medieval to XVII - 1066 AD? (Between) to 1700 AD (Between))
• TIN WORKS (Constructed, Early Medieval to XVII - 1066 AD? (Between) to 1700 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1972, OS/72/066, 013-014 (Aerial Photograph). SDV346967.

National Monuments Record, 1977, SX6880, 9/003-005 (Aerial Photograph). SDV281707.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1981, Medieval Industry, 85-95 (Article in Serial). SDV275197.

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

'Openwork' shown on aerial photograph transcription - no photo reference given.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1987-1993, Duchy Farms Project Survey Visit (Report - Survey). SDV350839.

(24/05/1990) SX 6857 7993. An openwork from tin extraction, cut into the moderate W slope of Challacombe Down.
Starting at a common point, SX 6857 7993, the work forks into two:
1] Cut NE, diagonally across the contours to SX 6863 8010; a fairly straight, V-shaped trench 2.5-5.5m wide and 0.7-2.5m deep, becoming narrower and shallower uphill. From 20m S of the uphill end, a slight channel, 0.7m wide and 0.2m deep, leads S for 80m to SX 6869 8003, close to a spring. It is possibly a former leat bringing water into the openwork.
2] Cut ENE straight upslope along the course of a stream, ending at SX 6872 7999 close to a spring. At the lower end it is V-shaped, meandering gently uphill and becoming shallower with a flattish base. It is 5-6m wide and 0.7-2.9m deep. The stream has washed out material from high up and deposited it lower down the work. The higher stretch of the S side is crudely revetted with drystone walling, the remains of a boundary wall of the field system SX 67 NE 111, but it has been cut away lower down. This suggests considerable age (see below).
A leat SX 67 NE 113 is taken off the stream in [2] and conducted W across [1].
At SX 6864 8003 is the remains of probable small reservoir just S of the N arm of the openwork. It is a silted linear depression measuring c. 11 by 4m across and 0.5m deep, cut into the hillslope. It has a retaining bank of upcast, on average 4m wide and 1.5m high, on its lower, W side which curves around the N end of the depression. A shallow linear channel, 0.8m wide and 0.2m deep, leads into the reservoir from a stream 60m to the SE and is probably a feeder leat. The reservoir was probably used to store water temporarily until required in the openwork.
The openwork is the result of removal of tin ore from a surface lode. Although undated, works of this type are assumed to be pre-c1700 (1). The N fork [1] cuts through a series of strip lynchets which are certainly pre-1800 (see SX 67 NE 111). The absence of any spoil possibly indicates the richness of the lode. A line of tin pits (see SX 68 SE 146) continues exploration of the lode E up Challacombe Down from the end of [1] (Greeves, 1981).
Surveyed at 1:2500. See plan with SX 67 NE 111.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8658 - Challacombe, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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