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Summary

Dam built to store water for Wheal Emma and Brookwood copper mines which operated between 1845 and 1885, latterly under the combined name of South Devon United (1878-1885).

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1433350
• National Record of the Historic Environment: SX76NW80

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• DAM (Constructed, Post Medieval to Early 20th Century - 1540 AD (Between) to 1901 AD (Between))

Full description

Newman, P., 2005, Brookwood and Wheal Emma Copper Mines, Buckfastleigh, Devon: An Archaeological Survey, Figure 2 (Report - Survey). SDV359199.

(30/04/2005) Dam built to store water for Wheal Emma (SX 76 NW 52) and Brookwood (SX 76 NW 51) copper mines which operated between 1845 and 1885, latterly under the combined name of South Devon United (1878-1885). The earthwork dam blocked off one of the River Mardle's small southern tributaries to create a reservoir to provide water to the mines via a leat (SX 76 NW 85). The dam, now breached, is 12.5m wide and approximately 5m thick with a stone revetment on the inside of the bank.
Mine surveyed at 1:1000 scale and described in detail.

Crabb, A., 2006, Bowden Farm Wood Archaeological Survey, 2 (Report - Survey). SDV364945.

(07/08/2006) Dam and reservoir (SX 70636729)
A stone bank has been built across the valley at this point from the northern side. The feature is roughly 1.5m high and runs for 5m. The bank does not block the stream which flows through at the southern end. There may have been a sluice gate installed at this point in the past but there is no surviving field evidence to support this idea. The bank may have acted as a dam to control water flow. There is faint evidence of a rock cut revetment on the northern side behind the dam which may be evidence of a purpose built reservoir. A similar feature that still holds water can be seen 300m downstream.
Another possible explanation for the bank is that it supported a leat to cross the valley. There is some scant field evidence of a former leat channel running down to the bank and then heading off along the other side. However this is rather poor and may represent a ride.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6840 - Survey of Brookwood and Wheal Emma Copper Mines (Ref: AI/01/2005)
• EDV8819 - Survey of Bowden Farm Wood

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