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Summary

An extensive area of streamworks of probable medieval to post-medieval date is visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards as curvilinear banks and hollows on Brisworthy Burrows on the north bank of the River Plym, east of Cadover Bridge.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56SE/400

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• STREAMWORKS (Early Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1750 AD (Between))

Full description

SB, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV20271.

Streamwork plotted by rchm app 1985 but no further reference (sb).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV224620.

Des=rchm app 1985.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV224621.

Des=gerrard, s. /the early south-western tin industry: an archaeological view/in newman, p.(ed)/the archaeology of mining + metallurgy in south west britain/(1996)67-83/(mining history: bulletins pdmhs, vol 13 no 2).

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/CPE/UK/1890, Devon County Council RAF/CPE/UK/1890 4289-4291 10-DEC-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV169268.

Curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks.

Royal Air Force, 1964, RAF/58/6399, RAF/58/6399 F64 0384-0385 02-JUL-1964 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363068.

Curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks.

Bluesky International Ltd/Getmapping PLC, 1999-2017, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SX5664 03-MAY-2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363087.

Curvilinear banks and ditches are visible as earthworks.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2019-2020, The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping Survey. Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (AI&M, formerly NMP) (Interpretation). SDV362982.

Earthworks including irregularly shaped mounds and closely spaced parallel curvilinear banks are visible covering an area of nearly 13ha from Brisworthy Burrows to Cadover Bridge, on the north bank of the River Plym.
The mounds vary greatly in shape and size, ranging from 6 to 60m across. The parallel banks mostly vary from 3 to 6m wide and measure up to 150 long.
The earthworks are interpreted as the remains of tin mining of probable medieval to post-medieval date, in particular, evidence of hydraulic mining known as streamworks.
The densest area of streamworks on Brisworthy Burrows is cut by several deeper channels, which might be evidence for the watercourses employed in the final stage of streamworking.
Due to their complexity and subtlety it was not possible to transcribe all of the visible earthworks. An Extent of Feature polygon was used to define the probable extent of the streamwork earthworks.
Further smaller areas of streamworking are visible to the south of the River Plym.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8098 - The South Devon Coast to Dartmoor Aerial Investigation and Mapping (formerly NMP) Survey, Area 2, Avon Valley to Plymouth (Ref: ACD2040)

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