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Summary

Whim platform west of Pryce Deacon's Shaft number 22 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: SX66NW/216/12
• 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 157257 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th May 2002. Whim platform north of Deacon's shaft, 350 metres south-east of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow tin mine. Denoted on east and west by a 1.8 metre wide and 0.4 metre high bank and on the north by a steep scarp leading down into an adjacent openwork. In the centre is a melior stone measuring 0.7 metres long by 0.6 metres wide, with a circular hole in its upper face measuring 9 centimetres in diameter and 8 centimetres deep. Heather, grass and bilberry.

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. At Pryce Deacon’s Shaft number 22 there are the remains of two whims. They consist of a roughly circular level platform of between 8 and 10 metres diameter. At two of the whims at Shaft numbers 5 and 22 the pivot stone is still in place with a central hole of 9 centimetre diameter. 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.

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

Feature visible on aerial photograph.

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.

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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