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Summary

A line of pits on west down are the result of past prospecting trials for sortridge and bedford mines. Gem mine, also called west sortridge consols, has left some completly ruinous and overgrown buildings. A tin mine, probably closing in the late 1870s; it lies on the east bank of the walkham viaduct, stone from which, after its demolition in 1965, was used for filling the deep mine shaft.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX47SE/74

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• TIN MINE (XVIII to Mid 20th Century - 1800 AD? (Between) to 1965 AD (Between))

Full description

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV278841.

Harris, h. /industrial archaeology of dartmoor/(1968)226. A line of pits on west down are the result of past prospecting trials for sortridge and bedford mines. Gem mine, also called west sortridge consols, has left some completly ruinous and overgrown buildings. A tin mine, probably closing in the late 1870s; it lies on the east bank of the walkham viaduct, stone from which, after its demolition in 1965, was used for filling the deep mine shaft.

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV278842.

Des=greeves, t. /an assessment of dartmoor tin working/(1990)43/in smr. Wheal gem. Late 19c stamping mill still has some of stamps framework in situ (greeves).

HAWKINS, A.S., Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV279491.

Vis=6/4/1978 (hawkins, a. S. ).

Rendell, P., 1996, Exploring the Lower Walkham Valley (Monograph). SDV361766.

Newman, P., 2011, Mining in the Tavy Valley, West Devon. An Assessment of Archaeological Potential, 40-41 (Report - Assessment). SDV347105.

Gem Mine (tin). Wheal Grenofen was recorded in Whitchurch parish by Lysons (1822), abandoned between 1815 and 1822, and the site later occupied by Gem would be a likely location for it. In 1855, this mine was operating as West Sortridge Consols, under which name it was depicted on a map of mine setts in the district in 1859. In 1873 the mine was re-launched as the Gem Tin Mining Co. Proceedings to liquidate the company were in progress from 1874 after which time the mine became disused. In 1880 the sett was acquired by the Walkham Valley Tin Mining Company which in turn was absorbed into Walkham United in 1881, which survived only until 1883 before being struck from the register. The 1885 Ordnance Survey First Edition map depicts an extraordinarily high number of surface features associated with this mine. Other details: Site No. 19.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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