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Summary

Remains of a Medieval or later blowing house situated within streamworks on the west bank of the River Yealm at Yealm Steps. The structure measures 8.8 metres by 3.1metres internally with walls, surviving to a height of 1.7 metres. A mould stone, 0.41metres by 0.31 metres and 0.12m deep, is situated inside the building. Other surviving features include a possible wheel pit and work area.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1002628: Blowing house N of Yealm Steps

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX66SW32
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 442258
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66SW/81
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66SW/81/2
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66SW/81/3
• Old SAM County Ref: 900

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BLOWING HOUSE (Early Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1066 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))
• DRESSING FLOOR (Early Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1066 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))
• FURNACE (Early Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1066 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))
• TIN MILL (Early Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1066 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))
• WHEEL PIT (Early Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1066 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))

Full description

Kelly, T., 1866, Celtic remains on Dartmoor, 46?, 125-6 (Article in Serial). SDV154696.

Burnard, R., 1888 - 1889, On the Track of the 'Old Men', Dartmoor, 111 (Article in Serial). SDV154694.

Crossing, W., 1890 - 1891, Western Antiquary, 177 (Monograph). SDV154702.

Worth, R. H., 1890 - 1894, The Erme, Yealm and Torry, 179-80 (Article in Serial). SDV154695.

Falcon, T. A., 1902-1903, Dartmoor Mining, 226 (Article in Serial). SDV154698.

Crossing, W., 1912 (1965), Crossing's Guide to Dartmoor, 407 (Monograph). SDV320981.

Worth, R. H., 1914, Stray notes on Dartmoor tin-working. Part 1, 284, plate 1, fig. 1 (Article in Serial). SDV243139.

Worth, R. H., 1940, The Dartmoor Blowing House, 220 (Article in Serial). SDV154693.

Worth, R. H., 1940, The Dartmoor Blowing House, 220 (Article in Serial). SDV154693.

Upper blowing mill, Yealm Steps. There is a mouldstone just inside the east wall. Well preserved house with drystone walls, length 8.2 metres, width 3.7 metres.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1950/1977, SX66SW32 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV157009.

Upper blowing house, one of two mouldstones, one within the house, the other outside.
Upper blowing house; second of two mouldstones.
(Visited 31/3/1950). Description by worth is accurate, however the only mould- stone found lay within the house. Dilapidated condition. Plan and section of cavity of mouldstone given.
(08/08/1977) This blowing house lies against the river cliff on the west bank of the River Yealm at 350m above OD. It measures 8.8m by 3.1m internally with the rubble walls, 0.8m thick, standing to a height of 1.7m. The southwest wall has collapsed and there is an entrance, 1.0m wide with projecting jambs, in the centre of the northeast side. A single mould stone, 0.41m by 0.31m overall and 0.12m deep, lies inside the building. There is no visible trace of either leat or wheel pit.
Divorced Survey at 1:10 000 on MSD.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1981, List of Known Devon Tin Mills c1450 - c1750, No.93 (Report - non-specific). SDV319826.

Visited 8/8/1977 Internal measurements 8.8 metres by 3.1 metres. South-west wall has collapsed. Mouldstone inside building. No trace of leat or wheelpit. Blowing mill (undocumented). Field evidence.

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

Not visible on Royal Air Force 1946 aerial photographs.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1990, An Assessment of Dartmoor Tinworking, 38 (Report - Assessment). SDV343684.

Cranstone, D. + Hedley, I., 1995, Monuments Protection Programme: The Tin Industry Step 3 Site Assessments, Devon 44A (Report - non-specific). SDV357946.

A well preserved blowing house situated within an area of streamworks. Within its southwest corner is the furnace, other surviving features include a mouldstone, possible wheel pit and work area.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds

• FDV4858 - MOULDSTONE (XIV to XVII - 1400 AD to 1699 AD)
• FDV4859 - MOULDSTONE (XIV to XVII - 1400 AD to 1699 AD)

Associated Events: none recorded

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