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Summary

Lower dressing floor investigated by dtrg in 1993. Trench 1m wide cut across levelled area forming downstream limit of mill complex. Removal of turf exposed sands clearly derived from tin working. Set within the upper surface were pieces of slag and slagged + vitrified furnace lining probably dumped after the floor has gone out of use - presumably in favour of the upper dressing floor.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1020039: Upper Merrivale tin blowing and stamping mills, 750m north of Shillapark

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX57NE/5/5
• Old SAM Ref: 28755

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 152195 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

(15/6/1999) Southern of two tin dressing floors at Upper Merrivale.

Greeves, T. A. P., 1993, Excavation of Upper Merrivale tin blowing and stamping mill, 4 (Un-published). SDV245503.

Lower dressing floor investigated by the Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group in 1993. Trench 1m wide cut across levelled area forming downstream limit of mill complex. Removal of turf exposed sands clearly derived from tin working. Set within the upper surface were pieces of slag and slagged and vitrified furnace lining probably dumped after the floor has gone out of use - presumably in favour of the upper dressing floor. Excavation of the leat running along base of scarp at back of dressing floor indicated several phases including one in which the base was lined with tin slimes. It is not known where the leat led, or whether it had a direct link with the site. Immediately below the upcast on lower side of this leat was another, smaller, shallow leat which would be ideal for use on a dressing floor, but as only 1m has been excavated, its function cannot be assumed.

Greeves, T. A. P. + Passmore, A., 2000, Upper Merrivale Tin Blowing and Stamping Mill, Dartmoor. Excavation - Interim Report 5, 4 (Report - Excavation). SDV262301.

Small trench, 2.5m by 2m, dug to investigate deposits. Evidence suggests area might have been used for setting out least valuable grades of tin processing waste.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7441 - Condition survey of the archaeological sites of Merrivale Training Area
• EDV7570 - Condition survey of Merrivale Range training area
• EDV8291 - Okehampton Range: Monument Baseline Condition Survey

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.