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Summary

A Rotary Engine House was constructed in 1866 at Gawton Mine, housing a horizontal cylinder, operating a crusher and whim.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1002667: Gawton arsenic mine and flue

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ENGINE HOUSE (XIX - 1866 AD (Between) to 1866 AD (Between))

Full description

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

A building is depicted.

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

A building is depicted.

Buck, C., 2006, Gawton Mine, Devon: Archaeological Assessment, 58-59 (Report - Assessment). SDV344672.

A Rotary Engine House is located at SX 45015 68810. The horizontal cylinder engine house building was located at SX 45015 68810. There appears not to have been a separate boiler house for this, rather steam is likely to have been piped to the engine from the pumping engine boiler house. Two buildings of equal height and shape are shown on the 1895 sectional elevation abandoned mine plan, one is presumably the rotary engine house and the other the crusher and winding drum. The building has largely collapsed during the past century, either through the rotting of structural timbers or site demolition. Much of the interior of the building is full of rubble, and is not accessible. The building should be repointed with lime mortar and the walls capped to restrict water ingress. Other details: Site No. 63.

Ordnance Survey, 2016, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV359352.

A building is depicted.

Clive Meaton, 2023, Gawton Mine, Devon- Costed and Prioritised Proposals for Capital Works for the Conservation and Management of Gawton Mine Scheduled Monument (Redacted Costs Version), 159-161, Photograph 91 and 92, Figure No. 7 (Report - Survey). SDV366131.

A Rotary Engine House was constructed in 1866 at SX 45015 68810, housing a horizontal cylinder, operating a crusher and whim. Steam for this engine house appears to have come from the Boiler House (Site No. 60). The Crusher (Site No. 64) was located on the north side of the engine house, next to the loadings, which would have housed the winding drum wheel and shaft drive. In 2006 the buildings had mostly collapsed, and the site was adjacent to a large spoil heap which had been partly pushed over their footprint. Much of the interior was filled with rubble. It was recommended that ideally, the surviving masonry elements should be repointed, and wall heads capped and if resources were not available, fencing should be erected around the remains.
The walls of the Rotary Engine House were found to be in a ruinous condition and overgrown during this survey. The north-west end wall survived to approximately 1.5 metres high, but the remainder comprised low lying masonry remains up to 750 millimetres high, revealing the broad footprint of the former engine house. The remains were assessed to be in medium condition. The Rotary Engine House was an important element of the mine dating from circa 1866 and will contain important evidential and historical value dating from this time onwards. The remains are considered to be of medium significance, relative to other features and structures within the Site. Vegetation clearance, structural repairs and monitoring are recommended. If the urgent conservation works are not deemed appropriate then the site should be securely fenced and left undisturbed. The location of the Rotary Engine House is based on the Site Plan Figure No. 7. Other details: Site No. 63.

Jon Avent, 2023, Gawton Mines, Gulworthy, Devon- Structural Condition Report, 35 (Report - Survey). SDV366140.

Vegetation present, particularly on wall heads, restricting access. Extensive collapse and delamination of remains to flank walls. Remove vegetation, consolidate wall heads and masonry. Other details: Site No. 63.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV9133 - Gawton Mines, Gulworthy, Devon- Structural Condition Report
• EDV9132 - Gawton Mine, Devon- Costed and Prioritised Proposals for Capital Works for the Conservation and Management of Gawton Mine Scheduled Monument
• EDV4746 - Archaeological Assessment of Gawton Mine, Devon
• EDV4747 - Field Survey of Gawton Mine

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