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Summary

Adit forming part of the 19th century Wheal Katherine Tin Mine

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021056: Wheal Katherine, 235m west of Plym Ford, forming an outlying part of Eylesbarrow Tin Mine
• SHINE: Earthwork remains of tin streaming and trial pits at Wheal Katherine Mine

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX66NW/216/36
• Old SAM Ref: 34468
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Gerrard, S., 1990-2002, Monument Protection Programme. Archaeological Item Dataset., MPP 157296 (Report - Survey). SDV277946.

Site visited on 15th May 2002. Adit 360 metres west-south-west of Plym Ford, forming part of Wheal Katherine Tin Mine. A water filled oval shaped hollow measuring 0.8 metres deep. Water is flowing from the hollow, which is probably flat bottomed. Water and rushes in base with grass and heather on the sides.

Newman , P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, 13, Figure 4 (Report - Survey). SDV352201.

The remains of only one adit may be identified at Wheal Katherine Tin Mine. It is located to the north of the dressing floor and likely to be associated with shafts 27, 28 and 29. The opening consists of a circa 9 metre crescentric pit which is water filled.

Newman, P., 1999, Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine, Figure 4 (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, 1063881 (National Heritage List for England). SDV355683.

Wheal Katherine includes structures and earthworks associated with Wheal Katherine situated on the lower south facing slopes of Eylesbarrow overlooking the River Plym. The final form of mining is represented by five particularly large pits called shafts and an adit. These would have been dug to reach the tin ore below the depth accessible by openworks and lode back pits. These features probably belong to the 19th century extraction phase. Ore extracted from these shafts and adits would have been processed in the stamping mill and associated dressing floors. The final product from this processing area would have been black tin which would have then been transported elsewhere for smelting.

National Monument Record, 2014, Pastscape, 1063881 (Website). SDV355682.

Remains of a tin processing works at Wheal Katherine which formed part of Eylesbarrow tin mine set and was operational until 1856. An archaeological field survey in 1994 located structures including a stamping mill, dressing floors and buddles.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6239 - Eylesbarrow (Ailsborough) Tin Mine

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