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Summary

Lady Bertha Mine opened in 1855, was closed from 1868 until 1880 when it was reopened again. The mine finally closed in 1899. Worked copper, arsenic and tin.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX46NE/506

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MINE (XIX - 1855 AD to 1899 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238782.

H. M. Stationery office/abandoned mines/(1929).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238783.

Collins, j. H. /mineralogy cornwall and devon/(1895).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238784.

Williams, j. /cornwall and devon mining industry/(1861).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238785.

Spargo, t. /mines of cornwall and devon/(1864).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238786.

Collins, j. H. /observations on west of england mining region/(1912).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238787.

Hunt, r. /mineral statistics/(1870-1872).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238788.

Williams, j. /cornwall and devon mining directory/(1862).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238789.

Spargo, t. /mines of cornwall and devon/(1866).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV238790.

Richardson, p. H. G. /british mining/44(1992)129/mines of dartmoor and the tamar valley after 1913.

RICHARDSON, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV96591.

Lady bertha mine on east bank of tavy 30 yds n of balstone. Dumps worked 1915-16 and ore treated at tavy consols (crf:sx46ne/554). Re-examined 1919 and 1923 (richardson).

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

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

Lady Bertha Mine (Copper, Disused) marked on 1904-1906 25 inch Ordnance Survey map. A number of buildings and structures are shown that are not present on the 1880s-1890s map.

Collins, J. H., 1912, Observations on the West of England Mining Region (Monograph). SDV323594.

Ramsden, J. V., 1952, Notes on the Mines of Devonshire, 89, 97 (Article in Serial). SDV60737.

B15 Bertha. Plan R 317 E M.R.O. Copper, arsenic, tin.
L1 Bertha. Plans R 183 A - 1601 - R I B - M.R.O and Maristow Estate Office, Roborough. Copper Other details: Fig 1.

Devon County Council, 1970, Devon County Council, Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969, Register of Disused Tips, Vol. 1 (Report - Survey). SDV356723.

Minerals worked at the mine copper, mispickel, arsenic, pyrite, black tin.

Possible danger to people on fisherman's path.

Waste materials tipped.

Two location maps are included; 1:10560 and 1:2500.

Newman, P., 2011, Mining in the Tavy Valley, West Devon. An Assessment of Archaeological Potential, 15-16 (Report - Assessment). SDV347105.

Lady Bertha Mine is well documented with good surviving cartographic and photographic material. It also has good field remains. The mine was worked from 1855 until 1868, was reopened in 1880 and finally closed in 1899 when a change in the lode direction produced lesser grade ores. The mine was fully water-powered with at least four waterwheels. The mine was 53 fathoms deep when abandoned and the wagons and much of the gear was said to have been left underground. Prior to 1882-4 machinery at the site comprised a large pumping waterhwwl and a water-powered drusher house. The site was redeveloped after 1884 and by the time of the Ordnance Survey revision in 1906 an additional hoisting waterhweel and tin dressing floors housing six round buddles had been added. The main shafts and large wheelpit were backfilled following the abandonment but many surface features survive including the crusher house, hoisting wheelpit and dressing floors. Other details: No. 4.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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