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Summary

Part of a tramway trackbed identified at Eylesbarrow tin mine. The tramway extended from one of the mine's stamping mills (Monument HoB UID 1300540) to Jenkin's Shaft, with a short branch running to Henry's Shaft. It would have been installed sometime between 1814 and 1852. An archaeological field survey of the tin mine by English Heritage in 1999 found the trackbed, to be between 4 metres and 6 metres wide, following a gently inclined course down to the dressing floors and had been very slightly embanked to keep the gradient constant where necessary. As the tramway approached the dressing floors, it had been raised about 0.4 metres. At this point a short branch leads off to another stamping mill (Monument Hob UID 1300534).

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021055: Eylesbarrow Tin Mine and associated remains

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX56NE259
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1300614
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX56NE/27/54
• Old SAM Ref: 34467(P)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• TRAMWAY (XIX - 1814 AD to 1852 AD (Between))

Full description

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 157274 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 9th may 2002. Tramway 840 metres south-west of Eylesbarrow, forming part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. Adjacent to shaft 12 the tramway survives as a 2.6 metre wide raised embankment standing 0.3 metres high which is revetted in places on the downslope side. The tramway overlies leat 25 which appears to cross on bridges. Grass, bracken and heather. The length of tramway leading from shaft 13 is 4 metres wide and is denoted on either side by 0.4 metre wide and 0.2 metre deep ditches. Grass, bracken and heather.

Robertson, J. G., 1994, The Archaeology of the Upper Plym Valley (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV139549.

Depicted and described by Robertson.

Fletcher, M. + Newman, P. + Probert, S., 1999, Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor areas in the Plym Valley, West Devon (Report - Survey). SDV346268.

(30/09/1999) A section of tramway trackbed which extends between stamping mill no. 4 at SX 5928 6770 (Monument Hob UID 1300540) and Jenkin's shaft at SX 59426820, with a short branch running to Henry's shaft (SX 5939 6818), at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine, which has a documented history between 1814 and 1852. The trackbed, which is on average between 4m and 6m wide, follows a gently inclined course down to the dressing floors and has been very slightly embanked to keep the gradient constant where necessary. As the tramway approaches the dressing floors, after crossing the Eylesbarrow track, it is raised about 0.4m. At this point also a short branch leads off to stamping mill no. 3 (Monument HOB UID 1300534).

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 37, Figure 2, Appendix 3 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

Several features at the mine were accessed by tramways for the transportation of mined ore between the shafthead and the dressing floors. Three tramways have been identified at Eylesbarrow Tin Mine. Tramway 1 extends between Stamping Mill 4 and Jenkins Shaft number 6 with a short branch running to Henry's Shaft number 5. The trackbed follows a gently inclined course down to the dressing floors and has been slightly embanked to keep the gradient constant. As the tramway approaches the dressing floors it is raised about 0.4 metres and a short branch leads off to Stamping Mill 3. For documentary references and full description see EH 1999.

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

Wessex Archaeology, 2002, Cramber Tor Training Area Rapid Condition Survey, WA156 (Report - Survey). SDV354588.

Cramber Tor Survey 2002, Site WA156.

English Heritage, 2005, Survey Information (miscellaneous date) (Report - Survey). SDV345855.

Tramway shown on survey.

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

(01/08/2006) As described in 1999. Condition remains unchanged

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

Linear feature visible on aerial photograph.

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: EH Project (Feb 2001 - Dec 2002)
• EDV8711 - Condition Survey of the Cramber Tor Training Area

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