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Summary

Whim platform west of Philips Shaft number 16 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/27/1/2
• Old SAM Ref: 34467

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WHIM PLATFORM (XVIII to XIX - 1750 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 157239 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th May 2002. Philip's Shaft whim platform, 340 metres south of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow tin mine. An arc formed by a 3.4 metre wide and 1.3 metre high stony bank with a very sharp profile in the interior. This represents the upper edge of a whim platform associated with Philip's shaft.

Newman , P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 19. Figure 2 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

Raising and lowering materials was achieved at some shafts by the use of horse whims. These comprised horizontal circular drums of timber rotating on a central pivot. Evidence for whims has survived at 6 of the shafts. In the cash book of 1814 there are references to making hedges around ‘Eastern Whim’ and ‘Western Whim’ but it is unclear which whims this refers to. In 18th and 19th century illustrations horse whims are frequently shown enclosed in circular roofed buildings. Around the whims at Philip’s Shaft number 16 and Pryce Deacon’s Shaft number 22 there is a low stony embankment.

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

English Heritage, 2014, National Heritage List for England, 1021055 (National Heritage List for England). SDV355683.

Site within the scheduled area of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine.

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. An English Heritage archaeological field survey identified 25 shaftheads of which 16 have names recorded in documentary sources.
Most of the shaftheads comprise conical pits between 9 metres and 16 metres in diameter, surrounded on the downslope side by either a crescentic or linear spoil dump up to 3 metres high. Some also have remains of masonry collars. It is likely that the majority of the shafts would originally have had collars, particularly those associated with winding or pumping equipment but they were destroyed or obscured when the shafts were capped after abandonment. At least five of the shafts were associated with pumping equipment, powered by the two waterwheels located on the lower flanks of the hill (Monument HOB UID 1300628 and 1300630). Three shafts Pryce Deacon's Shaft, Henry's Engine and New Engine all have evidence of balance bob pits built into the upper rim of the shafthead. Six of the shafts were used for winding.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6239 - Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine

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