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Summary

Possible adit or quarry at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine forming part of the 19th century Eylesbarrow Tin Mine

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/27/28
• Old SAM Ref: 34467

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ADIT? (XVII to XIX - 1700 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Sub-ovoid shaped earthwork shown on 19th century map.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 157191 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th May 2002. Adit 890 metres south-west of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. A linear hollow measuring 2.3 metres deep and with low spoil dumps along its lower length. The base of the hollow is hummocky in character. Grass, heather and rushes.

Newman , P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 10-12, Figures 2, 5 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

Four adits are referred to at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. These are ‘Deacon’s’, ‘Deep’, ‘Two Brothers’ and ‘Shallow’. In a cash book of 1814-1815 ‘Old Men’s Adit’ and ‘North’ and ‘South’ adits are also mentioned although only the mouth of ‘Shallow’ and ‘Deep’ Adits are depicted on the contemporary maps.
This feature is shown as 'A' on Figure 2 and as '(?) adit' on Figure 8. It has the appearance of an adit and consists of a flat-bottomed cutting set obliquely into the hillside. Any opening which may have existed is now blocked and there is no associated spoil. The feature is not documented and seems more likely to have been a quarry source for repairs to the adjacent track.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, Figure 5 (Article in Serial). SDV231130.

A possible adit is shown on the 1:500 survey to the north of Stamping Mill 2 just to the west of the leat embankment.

English Heritage, 2005, Industrial Survey Information (Report - Survey). SDV346396.

GeoInformation Group Ltd, 2010, 1:625 2010 Colour (12.5cm resolution) (Aerial Photograph). SDV346026.

Feature shown on aerial photograph on the south side of the track.

English Heritage, 2013, Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains, 1021055 (Schedule Document). SDV231131.

The 19th century Eylesbarrow Tin Mine opened in 1814 and continued until 1852. During this time several companies were formed to run the mine and most failed to make a profit. Eylesbarrow's importance stems from its unrivalled array of 19th century mining remains making it the largest and most informative example of a large scale water powered tin mine in Britain. At least 27 shafts and five adits were cut to reach the tin lodes, seven whim platforms and two water powered engine wheels were built to power the lifting and pumping machinery, a series of tramways were made to carry the ore to six separate stamping mills and, to complete the picture, a smelting house was constructed to smelt the processed tin from the stamping mills. The size of the operation is further emphasised by the large number of ancillary buildings constructed to serve the mine. Amongst these are a count house, dormitory accommodation, blacksmith's shop, powder houses, sample house and various storage buildings.

English Heritage, 2013, Pastscape, 1300505 (Website). SDV352645.

Remains of nineteenth century mine shafts and adits at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine, which was mined from 1814 until 1856. An English Heritage archaeological field survey identified 25 shaftheads of which 16 have names recorded in documentary sources.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4966 - Survey of Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor
• EDV6239 - Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine

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