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Summary

Earthwork remains of a probable 19th century leat situated on the west bank of the West Webburn River north of Challacombe, serving a waterwheel and tinworks site. An archaeological field survey in 1990 recorded a U-shaped channel 1.6m wide and 0.6m deep with an upcast bank on the downslope side up to 4m wide and 0.8m high. At SX 6943 8003 a shallow diversionary channel leaves at 90 degrees east. Beyond this the leat has slighter banks on both sides and turns abruptly east onto a ramped launder bank at SX 6944 8000 on the brink of the steep slope above the wheelpit (Monument HOB UID 915375). The launder bank is revetted with battered stone walling up to 1.2m high. From here water would have been delivered to the wheel on wooden launders.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021393: Medieval strip field system, tinworks, part of a prehistoric settlement, a cairn and reave on Challacombe Down

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX68SE152
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 917805
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX68SE/314

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• LEAT (Constructed, XIX - 1801 AD (Between) to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

National Monuments Record, 1977, NMR SX5479, 9 (Aerial Photograph). SDV226229.

FXG/5479/9

National Monuments Record, 1977, SX6979, 1/36-7, 2/42-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDV314438.

National Monuments Record, 1977, SX6980, 10-11, 5/399 (Aerial Photograph). SDV245035.

Visible on aerial photographs.

Royal Commission for the Historical Monuments of England, 1987-1993, Duchy Farms Project Survey Visit (Report - Survey). SDV350839.

(25/04/1990) SX 6944 8006: A leat on the west bank of the West Webburn river north of Challacombe, serving a 19th century waterwheel and tinworks site (Monument HOB UID 915375).
Its source is not clear because it is destroyed by tin extraction at the foot of Scudley Beam (Monument HOB UID 917666) but it was possibly fed by mine water from an adit (Monument HOB UID 917666) and from a stream flowing down Scudley Beam. There is no sign that it ever connected with a leat further up the valley (Monument HOB UID 917765).
Its extant north end commences at SX 6942 8014. It runs south, initially cut into a moderate then a gentle slope, at the foot of Challacombe Down, above the steep tinners cut adjacent to the river (Monument HOB UID 915166). It is a U-shaped channel 1.6m wide and 0.6m deep with an upcast bank on the downslope side up to 4m wide and 0.8m high. At SX 6943 8003 a shallow diversionary channel leaves at 90 degrees east. Beyond this the leat has slighter banks on both sides and turns abruptly east onto a ramped launder bank at SX 6944 8000 on the brink of the steep slope above the wheelpit. The launder bank is revetted with battered stone walling up to 1.2m high. From here water would have been delivered to the wheel on wooden launders.
Surveyed at 1:2500 (see SX 67 NE 111- Monument HOB UID 915469).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8658 - Challacombe, Duchy Farms Survey
• EDV8423 - Duchy Farms Project

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