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Summary

A series of parallel leats, now dry, which diverted water from the south bank of the River Mardle, to water wheels associated with Brookwood Mine which operated in the period 1845-1885.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SX76NW87
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1433381

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• LEAT (Built, 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 (Report - Survey). SDV359199.

(30/04/2005) A series of parallel leats, now dry, which diverted water from the south bank of the River Mardle, to water wheels associated with Brookwood Mine which operated in the period 1845-1885.
SX 7160 6763 to SX 7232 6750; total length 732m
This leat diverted water from a kink in the River Mardle to the pumping waterwheel (SX 76 NW 66) at the eastern end of Brook Wood, and a crusher house in the grounds of Brook Mill (not surveyed). The leat adopts an approximately straight course along the foot of the slope close to the river. At SX 7181 6761 the channel has been cut through by an adit cutting. It seems likely that this would have been bridged by a short wooden aqueduct because it is known that the wheel which this leat supplied, was still in operation quite late in the sequence of this mine. The dry channel is badly disturbed and silted in places with varying dimensions but it is on average 3m wide by 0.5m deep. Just above the wheelpit a shallow gully runs down the slope which would have carried water down on to a wooden launder set at 90 to both the leat and the wheel. This launder is depicted on the 1886 OS map.
SX 7167 6762 to SX 7234 6749
This badly disturbed leat probably provided water to the waterwheel (SX 76 NW 66) but may also have been associated with Brook Mill. The channel has similar appearance and dimensions to others in the area though has been effaced in several places. At SX 7196 6761 it adopts the same course as the field wall at the edge of the river flood plain.
SX 7151 6759 to SX 7175 6760
Drawing its water from the small unnamed Mardle tributary at about the same point as a modern pond now exists (SX 7150 6758), this leat supplied water to the waterwheel housed in the wheelpit at SX 7177 6761 (SX 76 NW 65). The western end of the leat has been much disturbed and the headweir no longer survives but the remains are clearer about half way along and the eastern section consists of a channel of 3.5m wide by 0.4m deep and has a bank on the downslope side of 4.5m spread. Just before reaching the wheelpit the channel kinks towards it. The wheelpit is built parallel with and touching the leat below and the tailrace would have diverted the water into this leat after passing over the wheel.
Mine surveyed at 1:1000 scale and described in detail.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

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

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