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Summary

Mine shafts depicted on historic mapping. The 1880s-1890s Ordnance Survey map shows a shaft on the east side of a track but subsequent mapping depicts a shaft on the west side. The shaft(s) were part of Wood Mine and had gone out of use by 1904-6.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX46NE/529/2

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MINE SHAFT (XVIII to XIX - 1751 AD to 1900 AD)

Full description

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

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

Old Shaft marked on 1904-1906 Ordnance Survey map as a small circular feature on the west side of a track in Great Whiterock Wood. Map object based on this source.

Ordnance Survey, 1907, 111SE (Cartographic). SDV242025.

'Old Shaft' shown on 1907 map.

Ordnance Survey, 1954, SX46NE (Cartographic). SDV343929.

Old Shaft marked on 1954 map.

Buck, C., 2010, Shaft Collapse at Fishacre Wood (Report - Survey). SDV348280.

A mine shaft recently collapsed in the centre of a track that has been used for many years by the Forestry Commission to extract wood cut down from conifer woodland. There is no documentary information relating to this working, which appears to be a small 19th century localised undertaking. The opening is approximately 2.5 metres square at surface track level, with the shaft sides virtually vertical. Water in the shaft is visible at a depth of approximately 5 metres below ground level, which is below the start of bedrock level (about 3 metres below surface level). The shaft appears to be oriented with its longest side along the line of the stope working (lode), which appears to broadly follow a north-south alignment. This suggests it is either a silver/lead working, or alternatively, a small localised stope working which was prospecting to cut possible east-west copper lodes. Other details: Photographs.

Newman, P., 2011, Mining in the Tavy Valley, West Devon. An Assessment of Archaeological Potential, 18-19, 61 (Report - Assessment). SDV347105.

Wood Mine (Lead). The origin of mining within this area of woodland on the west bank of the Tavy is not known, but Hamilton Jenkin reported a number of open gunnises between Lopwell Mine in Blindwell Wood and Wood Mine in Great Whiterock Wood, extending for a distance of over 830m. These would almost certainly be pre-18th century workings, probably for silver-lead. In the 19th century, the site was worked as the Wood Mine, a small undeveloped prospect, documented only between 1851 and 1857. Work was underway by November 1851 when the adventurers were considering sinking a shaft to the 20 fathom level. An earlier underground episode of unknown date is indicated by mention of the clearing out of an old adit and some shafts were also cleaned. In 1853 it was intended to continue the adit from the south part of the sett, through South Shaft and Middle Shaft to Whiterock Shaft a distance of about 400 fathoms. Later references to the mine mention that an engine was in use powering pumps in Middle shaft using flatrods. At a meeting of the Wood Mine adventurers in July 1857, a resolution was adopted to abandon the adventure.Other details: Site No. 6.

Unnamed shaft depicted on first edition 25 inch Ordnance Survey map. Likely to be Whiterock Shaft and part of Wood Mine. Other details: Site No. 46.

Cornwall Archaeological Unit, 2017, South Cornwall Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment, 1012 (Interpretation). SDV360825.

A mine shaft at this location was recorded on the second edition 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map, probably associated with Wood Mine, Bere Ferrers in Devon.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV5663 - Site Visit to Collapsed Shaft at Fishacre Wood

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