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Summary

Area of earthworks and disturbed ground to east of Cleave. Adjacent to field named 'Tin Hill' in mid 19th century, between Cleave and South Tamar Mines. Earthworks of irregularly shaped banks and a pit are visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2013 and 2019.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• EXTRACTIVE PIT (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
• MINE (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))
• SPOIL HEAP (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Earthworks and disturbed ground shown on first edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch map. Map object based on this Source.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Earthworks are shown in this location.

Middleton, R., 1999, Lower Birch Farm Field Inspection Report (Report - non-specific). SDV344152.

Site visit 22nd September 1999. A small area of spoil heaps to the north of the lower mining remains, covered in dense gorse scrub. The small portion investigated revealed no evidence for structures, walls or adits.

Environment Agency, 2000-2019, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Environment Agency LAST RETURN 19-APR-2019 (Cartographic). SDV363954.

Earthworks of irregularly shaped banks and a pit are visible.

Rippon, S. + Claughton, P. + Smart, C., 2009, Mining in a Medieval Landscape: The Royal Silver Mines of the Tamar Valley, 77-8 (Monograph). SDV344097.

South from Cleave Wood to the river Tamar, at what was known as South Tamar Consols in the 1850s, the pattern of mineralisation takes the workable lead/silver deposits deeper in the strata, forcing mining under the river. Other details: Figure 4.3.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Map object based on this Source.

NERC, 2013, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) Tellus: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Tellus LAST RETURN 01-JUL-2013 to 31-AUG-2013 (Cartographic). SDV363955.

Earthworks of irregularly shaped banks and a pit are visible.

Hegarty, C., Houghton, E., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2020-2021, Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 1 (AI&M project) (Interpretation). SDV363945.

Earthworks of irregularly shaped banks and a pit, between 5-45 metres long, are visible on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2013 and 2019.
The banks and pit correspond with earthworks depicted on the late-19th century and early-20th century First and Second Edition Ordnance Survey maps. South Tamar Silver and Lead Mine (MDV5493) is also shown on these maps in proximity to the south.
The earthworks are therefore interpreted as the spoil heaps and extractive pit of 19th century mine workings, possibly associated with South Tamar Mine. The workings had probably passed out of use by the late-19th century.
The earthworks correspond with a feature recorded in this area from aerial photographs as part of the Tamar Valley NMP project. Further details from the survey database of this feature, including aerial photograph references and interpretive text, are awaiting accessioning. It has been re-transcribed during this survey from lidar data which has provided additional clarity and detail as well as improved spatial accuracy, but which was unavailable to the previous survey.
The earthworks are not clearly visible on other available aerial imagery owing to thick tree cover.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8345 - Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology Area 1 (AI&M) (Ref: ACD2380)

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