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Summary

Mine shaft number 22 known as 'Pryce Deacon' 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 Monuments Record: 1300505
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66NW/216/14
• Old SAM Ref: 34467

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MINE SHAFT (XVIII to XIX - 1750 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Earthwork shown on 19th century map to the north-east at Grid Reference SX6026836.

Cook, R. M. L., 1974, Eylesbarrow (1814- 1852): A Study of a Dartmoor Tin Mine (Article in Serial). SDV231127.

There is field evidence for the former existence of five whims at Eylesbarrow. Close to 'Deacon's shaft' (Shaft 22) there are indications of two possible whim plats, each with a diameter of 12.192 metres. One has a centrally located bearing stone with a blind hole.

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 157259 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th May 2002. Shaft 400 metres south east of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. A substantial flat bottomed pit with spoil upcast around the edges. The pit is about 3 metres deep and on the south side is a smaller 1 metre deep pit. Grass in shaft with heather on the dump.

Newman , P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 6-10, Figures 2-3, Appendices 1-2 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

Over thirty shaftheads are still visible at the 19th century Eylesbarrow Tin Mine . They consist of conical pits surrounded on the downslope side by a crescentric ring of spoil or linear spoil dumps.
Shaft 22 known as 'Pryce Deacon' was associated with a bob pit, flat rods from both Engine Wheelpits and possibly two whims. It is in an area of earlier activity where deposits were initially exploited by either streamwork or openwork methods. 'Pryce Deacon's' shaft was also known as 'Deacon's' and was mentioned in documents from May 1838 until Oct 1847.

Whitbourne, A., 2001, Visit to Eylesbarrow Mine (Article in Serial). SDV231129.

Two whim platforms are located at 'Price Deacon Shaft' where it is suggested that the whimstones may have been manpowered capstans. A flat rod system linked 'Price Deacon Shaft' with 'Whitford Shaft' which was renamed 'Henry's Engine' after conversion from mining to pumping.

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.

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

One of the mine shafts at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine.

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.
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. Three shafts 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

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

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