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Summary

Eylesbarrow Tin Mine operated between 1814 and 1852 and was spread over a large area. Earlier exploitation of the area dated from at least the 12th century and may havce originated in the Prehistoric period. Alterante name; Wheal Ruth.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains
• Scheduled Monument 1010669: Part of Eylesbarrow watershed reave
• Scheduled Monument 1010658: Part of Eylesbarrow watershed reave
• Scheduled Monument 1013474: Two enclosures and a length of the Eylesbarrow watershed reave 800m WSW of Eylesbarrow
• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains
• Scheduled Monument 1010669: Part of Eylesbarrow watershed reave
• Scheduled Monument 1010658: Part of Eylesbarrow watershed reave
• Scheduled Monument 1013474: Two enclosures and a length of the Eylesbarrow watershed reave 800m WSW of Eylesbarrow
• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56NE108
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 438809
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/27
• Old SAM County Ref: 1001
• Old SAM Ref: 34467

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• TIN MINE (XIX - 1814 AD to 1852 AD (Between))

Full description

Collier, W. F., 1879, Third Report of the Committee on Dartmoor, 120 (Article in Serial). SDV347531.

E11 Eylesbarrow (Aylesborough) tin mine. Old house and long abandoned tin mine just above the Plym on the way to Buckland Abbey.

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

'Eylesbarrow Tin Mine (Disused)' shown on 19th century map with building outlines, enclosures and earthworks.

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

'Eylesbarrow Tin Mine (disused)' shown on early 20th century map.

Ramsden, J. V., 1952, Notes on the Mines of Devonshire, 94, Figure 1 (Article in Serial). SDV60737.

E 11 Eylesbarrow Tine Mine.

Cook, R. M. L., 1974, Eylesbarrow (1814- 1852): A Study of a Dartmoor Tin Mine, 161-214 (Article in Serial). SDV231127.

Described by Cook et al 1974. SX 599681 The Eylesbarrow Tin Mine started in February 1815 in an area where mining had been carried on since the 16th century. By 1822 its blast and reverberatory furnaces were in operation smelting ore from other mines in the vicinity, such as the Bottle Hill Tine Mine (SX 55 NE 6), as well as its own. Due to the low price of tin, production appears to have stopped between 1831 and 1835, but with the formation of the Dartmoor Consolidated Tin Mines Company in 1836 a little tin was smelted until 1841.
In 1847 a new company, Dartmoor Consols, completely reorganised the mine, moved the engine wheel house to SX 59306821, dug two new shafts and built a nine-headed stamping mill. No tin seems to have been marketed despite this work and for want of capital the company ceased in 1848. By 1851 the name had been changed to Wheal Ruth, possibly by a new company which had deepened one shaft by 120 feet; but by January 1852 all work had stopped. The mine was sold but part of it, the Wheal Katherine mine, SX 607684, appears to have continued to mine ore until October 1856, with a 24 inch double-acting steam engine and 36 headed stamp.

Hemery, E., 1983, High Dartmoor, 215 (Monograph). SDV249702.

History and description of the site given.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1990, An Assessment of Dartmoor Tinworking, 28-31 (Report - Assessment). SDV343684.

Robertson, J. G., 1994, The Archaeology of the Upper Plym Valley (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV139549.

Depicted and described by Robertson 1991.

Cranstone, D. + Hedley, I., 1995, Monuments Protection Programme: The Tin Industry Step 3 Site Assessments, Devon 6B and 6C (Report - non-specific). SDV357946.

Documented.

Gerrard, S., 1996, The Early South-Western Tin Industry: An Archaeological View, 67-83 (Article in Serial). SDV337901.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1996, Tin Smelting in Devon in the 18th & 19th Centuries, 84-89, Figures 2-3, Plate 1 (Article in Serial). SDV240078.

'Ailsborough Mine' was the last operating tin smelting house on moorland Dartmoor and likely to have been the site of the last blast furnace in operation in Devon. Good records survive from 1822 - 1831 of the quantities of tin smelted and of the different grades of tin produced. There remains archaeological evidence of the two furnaces and other features.

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

(30/09/1999) Eylesbarrow Mine operated between 1814 and 1852. The archaeological evidence is spread over a large area and includes examples of most types of remains associated with this industry. The area was exploited for tin from at least the 12th or 13th century. The 'Ailsboro Mines Company' commenced work at Eylesbarrow in 1814 continuing the work of previous ventures. Many of the features such as shafts, adits and stamping mills already existed but new shafts and deep adits were sunk. Underground pumping was established and the engine wheel with associated flatrods was installed. The engine leat was completed by 1818 and several new buildings and three additional stamping mills were installed. A smelting house with an associated stamping mill was built circa 1822 when 'Ailsborough Co' commenced coining tin at Tavistock. The mine had a total of seven stamping mills and the smelting house operated both blast and reverberatory furnaces. Tin smelting ceased at Eylesbarrow Mine in 1831. By 1836 'Dartmoor Consolidated Tin Mines' had taken over the site but were unsuccessful. Several further companies attempted to operate the mines in the Upper Plym Valley between 1844 and 1852 when the mine finally closed.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 105-148 (Article in Serial). SDV231130.

On the English Heritage survey of Eylesbarrow Mine a series of shafts are located in this area as well as numerous pits. A map of Ellisborough Tin Mines circa 1825 delineates many of the mines' features including 11 shafts. The Ailsboro Mines' cashbook of 1814 reveals other shafts. The mine was known as Wheal Ruth in 1851.

Whitbourn, A., 2001, An Archaeological Investigation into features comprising, and associated with, Ditsworthy Warren, 82, Appendix 4 (Report - Assessment). SDV360381.

Eylesbarrow tin mine.

Whitbourn, A., 2001, An Archaeological Investigation into features comprising, and associated with, Ditsworthy Warren, 82, Appendix 4 (Report - Assessment). SDV360381.

Eylesbarrow Mine.

Whitbourne, A., 2001, Visit to Eylesbarrow Mine, 2-3 (Article in Serial). SDV231129.

Buildings at Eylesbarrow Mine included a barracks built in 1840, explosives store, blacksmiths shop, carpenters workshop and deacon's house. By 1822 its blast and reverbatory furnaces were smelting ore from other mines (eg Bottle Hill tin mine) as well as its own. Production appears to have stopped between 1831 and 1835, but with the formation of the Dartmoor Consolidated Tin Mines Company in 1836 a little tin was smelted until 1841.

Gerrard, S., 2003, 157245 (Report - Survey). SDV352200.

Site visited on 30th September 2003. Tin mine at Eylesbarrow consisting of a series of lode-back pits and other features.

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

Industrial activity shown on survey at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine.

Newman, P., 2006, Cramber Tor Training Area Archaeological Field Investigation (Report - Survey). SDV233640.

(01/08/2006) As described in 1999.

National Monuments Record, 2013, 438809, SX56NE108 (Website). SDV231126.

A tin mine which was first expoited in 1814 and is situated within an area which has been worked for tin since the 16th century. Production took place until 1831, reopening in 1835. In 1847 parts of the mine were reorganised. The mine's name was changed to Wheal Ruth in 1851. Work had stopped in 1852 except for Wheal Katherine, which was part of this sett which continued working until 1856. An archaeological field survey by English Heritage found the majority of the mine remains located on the southwestern slopes of Eylesbarrow. Wheal Katherine was situated at the upper end of the Plym Valley. The surface evidence for underground mining comprises 24 shaftheads and 4 adits. Power for pumping the underground levels was initially provided by a waterwheel which drove two flatrod systems powering pumps located in shafts further up the hill to the east. From 1848 motive power was provided by a larger 50ft waterwheel supplying power via new flatrods to shafts. Balance Bob pits survive on several of the shafts and others have remains of whim plats. Six dressing floors were also recorded, these were aligned along the Drizzlecombe Valley. A smelting house contained both a blast and reverberatory furnace and was operating between 1822 and 1831. A series of ancillary buildings associated with the mine also survive. Water to power the wheels and other processes was diverted from the River Plym and its upper tributaries via two leats and an exceptionally large storage reservoir contained the water. In 1847 a new company, Dartmoor onsols, reorganised the mine and moved the engine wheelhouse to SX59306821, dug two new shafts and built a nine-headed stamping mill. The company ceased in 1848. By 1851 the name had been changed to Wheal Ruth, possibly by a new company which had deepened one shaft by 120 feet but by January 1852 all work had stopped. The mine was sold but part of it, the Wheal Katherine Mine at SX607684, appears to have continued until October 1856, with a 24 inch double-acting steam engine and 36 headed stamp.

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. In particular, the 19th century mining remains represent an important source of information concerning the character of a large scale water powered tin mine, where all the original elements survive in an excellent condition. The survival of so many stamping mills together with a smelting house and full range of mining remains and associated buildings is indeed unique in the South West of England.
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. The 19th century 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.
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. The first stage was extensive prospecting using both pits and trenches. Large numbers of these features survive within the vicinity of the tin work. The pits were excavated solely by hand but the trenches were formed by using both shovels and running water. The water was brought to the area in leats and stored in reservoirs. Once the lodes had been identified they were extracted using different mining techniques. Foremost among these was the use of opencast quarries known as openworks to extract the lode tin and these survive as deep, steep sided gullys trending approximately east to west. The second form of evidence relating to mining survives as series of deep pits and these are known as areas of lode back tin working. This form of exploitation consists of deep pits being cut onto the back of the lode with the tin ore encountered being raised to the surface. When extraction became difficult the pit was abandoned and a new one opened elsewhere on the lode. The resulting archaeological remains include linear series of deep pits each associated with a spoil dump.
While the earlier mining remains are of considerable significance, 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.
The smelting house is of particularly significance because it is the only surviving example on Dartmoor and black tin from other mines was brought here during its nine year life. It survives as a substantial rectangular building containing a blast and reverberatory furnace. The house shares a wheelpit with an adjacent stamping mill and the remnants of a flue lead away upslope towards the remains of a chimney stack. During the nine years that the smelting furnace produced tin metal a total of 276 tons (280 tonnes) were smelted. All the black tin produced at Eylesbarrow before 1822 and after 1831 was probably sent to Cornwall for smelting.
Peripheral archaeological remains associated with the mine include five pillow mounds which were probably built by the miners to provide an additional food source and two field systems in which tinners may have grown crops or kept livestock. The only archaeological remains within the monument which are in no way connected with tin working at Eylesbarrow is a Prehistoric settlement at SX59296823 which survives as an oval enclosure containing five stone hut circle.

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

'Eylesbarrow Tin Mine (disused)' shown on modern mapping. Various mining features outlined.

Historic England, 2021-2022, NRHE to HER website, accessed 02/07/2021 (Website). SDV364039.

The reverberatory and blast furnace at SX 592677 worked from 1822 to 1831. A rectangular building, about 70 by 20 feet, the walls of which survive to a height of 5 feet, had a long flue ending at a 3 feet diameter chimney. Mortar stones at one end indicate a stamping mill and a wheel pit and settling pits are situated nearby (citing Department of the Environment (Inspector of Ancient Monuments) Record Form July 1977).
(SX 598681) Eylesbarrow Tin Mine (Disused) (NAT), (SX 59186764) Blowing House (NAT) (Ordnance Survey 1954 map citation).
The smelting house is as described by the DOE (IAM). It is in fair condition (citing Ordnance Survey Field Investigators Comments, 14-DEC-1978).

Greeves, T., July 1979, Devon Studies Week. Notes for Afternoon Excursion, Thursday, July 12th 1979 (Un-published). SDV230997.

Site visited on 12th July 1979.

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
• EDV7382 - Condition Survey of the Cramber Tor Training Area
• EDV7443 - Condition survey of archaeological sites in Ringmoor Training Area
• EDV7569 - Condition survey of Ringmoor Down training area
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey
• EDV8227 - Ringmoor Training Area: Monument Baseline Condition Survey

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