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Summary

Leat 3 to the north-west of the main buildings forming part of the 19th century Eylesbarrow Tin Mine

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1448378
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/27/2/6
• Old SAM Ref: 34467
• Pastscape: 1300505

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• LEAT (XVIII to XIX - 1750 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 157238 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th May 2009. Leat 520 metres south-south-west of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. Leat shown on maps of 1825, but not on later ones. This leat carried water from Copothorn Rushes to a reservoir. The leat is 1.2 metres wide and 0.6 metres deep. It is cut by a shaft and re-routed around it.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 36, Figure 2 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

An additional supply of water was diverted to Engine Wheel 2 from an area on the north side of the openworks near the main buildings at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. This probably utilised hillside rainwater runoff and was not a particularly reliable supply but demonstrates how much water this large wheel must have required.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, Figure 2 (Article in Serial). SDV231130.

English Heritage, 2005, Leats Survey Information (Report - Survey). SDV347529.

Leat shown on survey.

Newman, P., 2006, Cramber Tor Training Area Archaeological Field Investigation (Report - Survey). SDV233640.

(01/05/2006) SX 5942 6824 Three dry leats on the lower western slopes of Eylesbarrow, two of which may be associated with Eylesbarrow Mine wheelpit. The mine leats cut a sinuous course down the hillside extending between the area south of the mine buildings to just east of the wheelpit at SX 5927 6821. The third leat cuts a north-north-west course along the contour, crossing the Eylesbarrow Reave and fading out to the north in a marshy area. The leat channels are up to 1m wide in places and 0.6m deep with a linear mound of spoil on the downslope side. Although the leats may be have been used to supply the waterwheel, no association can be identified on the ground.

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

Sections of the leat visible on aerial photographs.

English Heritage, 2013, Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains (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.

National Monument Record, 2014, Pastscape, 1300505 (Website). SDV355682.

Remains of nineteenth century mine shafts and adits at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine, which was mined from 1814 until 1856.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4966 - Survey of Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor. The Eylesbarrow archaeological landscape
• EDV6239 - Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine
• EDV7382 - Condition Survey of the Cramber Tor Training Area
• EDV8155 - Plym Valley Survey

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