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Summary

A water powered stamping mill and attached dressing floor at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. The mill is one of six stamping mills which processed tin ore for Eylesbarrow Tin Mine, and is also one of three which were constructed in 1814. An archaeological field survey by English Heritage in 1999 found the mill to comprise a level stance of ground with a revetted retaining wall. At the north end is a rectangular, stone wheelpit, measuring 8.2 metres by 0.9 metres. Upslope is a raised earth leat embankment, which would have supported a wooden launder channel at the correct height to bring water to the overshot wheel. A deep open tail race channel diverted water away from the wheelpit, onto the launder of the fourth stamping mill in the sequence (Monument HOB UID 1300540). The water source was the Eylesbarrow Engine leat which stored water in the large reservoir 160m uphill (Monument HOB UID 1300605). Before connecting with this mill the water had already passed over or bypassed the Engine Wheel (Monument HOB UID 1300630) and two stamping mill wheels. A possible stamping has also been identified. It consists of a 3 metre by 2.2 metre stone revetted level platform, raised above the dressing floor onto which the set of Cornish stamps, would operate. The mill used the wet stamping process whereby a flow of water was passed over the base of the stamps, washing the crushed particles through a perforated grate, into a stone lined settling pit sited on the dressing floor. It measures 2.8 metres by 1.3 metres long and has a lining of flat granite slabs, which are still partially visible. Below the main dressing floor there are 2 additional pits. They measure approximately 7.5 metres by 2.8 metres, and survive to a maximum depth of 0.5 metre. One has remains of a masonry lining.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56NE249
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1300534
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/194
• Old SAM Ref: 34467

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BUDDLE (Built, XIX - 1814 AD to 1814 AD (Between))
• OVERSHOT WHEEL (Built, XIX - 1814 AD to 1814 AD (Between))
• SETTLING PIT (Built, XIX - 1814 AD to 1814 AD (Between))
• STAMPING MILL (Built, XIX - 1814 AD to 1814 AD (Between))
• STAMPS (Built, XIX - 1814 AD to 1814 AD (Between))
• TAIL RACE (Built, XIX - 1814 AD to 1814 AD (Between))
• WATERMILL (Built, XIX - 1814 AD to 1814 AD (Between))
• WHEEL PIT (Built, XIX - 1814 AD to 1814 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Three sided structure open to the south-west shown on 19th century map. A small rectangular building is shown in the northern corner.

Cook, R. M. L., 1974, Eylesbarrow (1814- 1852): A Study of a Dartmoor Tin Mine, Figures 1-3 (Article in Serial). SDV231127.

Eylesbarrow Stamping Mill Number 3. Extensive dressing floor. Stamps on one side of the wheel only. Has a''reck house' nearby.

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

Not visible 1946 aerial photograhs.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., 157197 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th May 2002. Stamping mill 1020 metres south-west of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. A machinery block stands next to the wheelpit and survives as a shaped rectangular granite block 1.2 metres long, 0.58 metres wide by 0.58 metres thick. Four holes cut into the north-east end are 5 centimetres in diameter and 8 centimetres deep. The wheelpit is 0.9 metres wide, 0.7 metres deep and is filled with rubble. Covered in grass and heather.

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

Depicted and described by Robertson.

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

Additional reference.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1997, Tin Stamping Mills of Dartmoor after AD 1750, 6-8 (Article in Serial). SDV346020.

Eylesbarrow, Stamping Mill Number 3. Extensive dressing floor. Stamps on one side of the wheel only. Has a 'reck house' nearby.

Bodman, M., 1998, Water-Powered Sites in Devon, 23/26 (Report - non-specific). SDV305931.

Fletcher, M. + Newman, P. + Probert, S., 1999, Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor areas in the Plym Valley, West Devon (Report - Survey). SDV346268.

(30/09/1999) SX 5934 6776. One of six stamping mills with attached dressing floor aligned along Drizzlecombe, where tin ore was processed at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine, which is documented between 1814 and 1852.
The stamping mill consists of a level stance of ground with a revetted retaining wall on the upslope, eastern side with a return wall on the south end. The rectangular, open-ended, stone wheelpit is sited at right angles to the revetment on the north end and measures 8.2m by 0.9m. It is very ruinous containing much tumbled masonry. Upslope of the wheelpit is a raised earth leat embankment, which would have supported a wooden launder channel at the correct height to bring water to the overshot wheel. The embankment is 52.5m long with an average width of 4.5m. A deep open tail race channel diverted water away from the wheelpit, onto the launder of the fourth stamping mill in the sequence (Monument HOB UID 1300540). The water source was the Eylesbarrow Engine leat which stored water in the large reservoir 160m uphill (Monument HOB UID 1300605). Before connecting with this mill the water had already passed over or bypassed the Engine Wheel (Monument HOB UID 1300630) and two stamping mill wheels.
A stamping area may be identified beside the mill, immediately adjacent to the south side of the wheel. It consists of a 3.0m by 2.2m stone revetted level platform, raised above the dressing floor onto which the stamps, of the Cornish type, would fall, contained within a timber coffer. The upper surface has a robust granite kerb to contain rammed quartz and possibly scrap iron, onto which the stamps would strike. The mill would have used the wet stamping process whereby a flow of water was passed over the base of the stamps, washing the crushed particles through a perforated grate, into a stone lined settling pit sited on the dressing floor. The settling pit into which the crushed tinstone would run from the stamps are sited approximately 1m from the stamps area on the left of the wheelpit. It measures 2.8m by 1.3m long and has a lining of flat granite slabs, which are still partially visible. The pit is not a perfect rectangle but has a coffin shaped end. Two additional rectangular pits or 'buddles' sit on the dressing floor though has survived less well, the remains consisting only of an earthwork hollow, adjacent to the revetment wall.
Below the main dressing floor there are 2 additional pits. These could have served a range of purposes including further refining the tin concentrate and settling the waste sands, or 'tailings', out of the water before returning it to the river. They measure approximately 7.5m by 2.8m, and survive to 0.3m to 0.5m deep. One has remains of a masonry lining.

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

Referred to as a new mill in 1814 when it was thatched and buddle conduits were made. Little stonework visible as walls more like a stone-faced bank with slight batter. Features shown on 1:500 survey.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 22, 25-28, Figures 2, 10-11 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

Stamping mills at 'Ailsboro Mines' were undergoing a programme of refurbishment in 1814 and works were being undertaken at three new stamping mills including Stamping Mill Number 3 where a buddle conduit was made and the mill was thatched. The engine leat to this mill was still being constructed in 1814. All the stamping mills at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine consist of a level stance cut into the slope with a revetted retaining wall on the upslope side and return wall on one or both ends. The rectangular open ended wheelpits are sited at right angles to the revetment. Upslope of the wheelpits are raised leat embankment which would have supported wooden launders. A stamping area can be identified at each mill immediately adjacent to the wheel which consists of a stone revetted level platform raised above the dressing floor onto which the Cornish Type stamps would fall onto the ore contained within a timber coffer. The upper surfaces have robust granite kerbs. The mills would have used the wet stamping process washing the crushed particles through a perforated grate into a stone-lined settling pit sited on the dressing floor. Below the main dressing floors are a range of secondary 'buddles' and tailings pits which would have further refined the tin concentrate. The water-borne concentrate and waste would be transported between processes via a system of wooden launders, channels and underground conduits. The mill is likely to be one of three mills for which construction is recorded in 1814. For documentary references and full description see EH 1999.

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

National Monument Record, 2013, 1300534, SX56NE249 (National Monuments Record Database). SDV352482.

A water powered stamping mill and attached dressing floor at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. The mill is one of six stamping mills which processed tin ore for Eylesbarrow Tin Mine, and is also one of three which were constructed in 1814. An archaeological field survey by English Heritage in 1999 found the mill to comprise a level stance of ground with a revetted retaining wall. At the north end is a rectangular, stone wheelpit, measuring 8.2 metres by 0.9 metres. Upslope is a raised earth leat embankment, which would have supported a wooden launder channel at the correct height to bring water to the overshot wheel. A deep open tail race channel diverted water away from the wheelpit, onto the launder of the fourth stamping mill in the sequence. The water source was the Eylesbarrow Engine leat which stored water in the large reservoir 160m uphill. Before connecting with this mill the water had already passed over or bypassed the Engine Wheel and two stamping mill wheels. A possible stamping has also been identified. It consists of a 3 metre by 2.2 metre stone revetted level platform, raised above the dressing floor onto which the set of Cornish stamps, would operate. The mill used the wet stamping process whereby a flow of water was passed over the base of the stamps, washing the crushed particles through a perforated grate, into a stone lined settling pit sited on the dressing floor. It measures 2.8 metres by 1.3 metres long and has a lining of flat granite slabs, which are still partially visible. Below the main dressing floor there are 2 additional pits. They measure approximately 7.5 metres by 2.8 metres, and survive to a maximum depth of 0.5 metre. One has remains of a masonry lining.

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

There are six dressing floors at Eylesbarrow where ore was stamped and dressed, aligned along the Drizzlecombe valley.

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 six separate stamping mills and a smelting house was constructed to smelt the processed tin from the stamping mills. The size of the operation is 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.

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

Three sides of a structure open to the south-west shown on modern mapping.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording forms, WLK-DT40 (Worksheet). SDV362781.

Visited 17/9/2019. Wheelpit covered by grass and whortleberry with reeds in then tailrace. Overall condition very good. Photo taken.

Various, 2018-2020, PALs Condition Recording photographs, WLK-DT40 (Photograph). SDV363073.

Photo looking 190° showing wheelpit with grass and whortleberry cover and reeds in the tail race.

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

Site visited on 12th July 1979. Constructed about 1820. One of a series of tin stamping mills. Served by a leat.

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)

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