See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

The northern edge of Blackborough Common is occupied by an extensive series of mine workings in the hillside. These are remains of openworks and true mines relating to the whetstone mining industry here, which only finished in the 1920s. The ruinous state of Garnsey's Tower is locally attributed to subsidence of mine workings beneath it. The hillside shows traces of pits, adits, spoilheaps.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST00NE/48

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MINE (Early Medieval to XXI - 1066 AD to 2009 AD)

Full description

1906, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV39896.

"old workings" marked on os 6" (1906) map.

APH, Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV39897.

Whetstone workings around n and w sides of blackborough common and in tower plot (see subsheet) visible on raf 1947 ap's. Rough extent plotted on smr overlay (aph).

Stanes, R. G. F., Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV39898.

The mine workings were nearly continuous along the western escarpment of the blackdowns. In 1825 the escarpment was easily distinguishably the white line produced by heaps of refuse thrown down from the workings. Tunnels were dug into the hill up to 400 yards long. The white stripe is no longer visible but the sites of the workings can still be found and miners' tracks survive as public footpaths and bridleways (stanes).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV39899.

Des=griffith, f. M. /as above(20/7/1990).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV39900.

Des=os 6"(1906)47sw.

Untitled Source (Aerial Photograph). SDV39901.

Aph=raf/cpe/uk/1974/2293-4/(11/4/1947).

Untitled Source (Migrated Record). SDV39902.

Stanes, r. /tda/125(1993)71-112/devonshire batts.

Griffith, F. M., Untitled Source (Report - Survey). SDV677.

Vis=10/7/1990 (griffith) the northern edge of blackborough common is occupied by an extensive series of mine workings in the hillside. These are remains of openworks and true mines relating to the whetstone mining industry here, which only finished in the 1920s (mr northam, bodmiscombe farm, pers comm). The ruinous state of garnsey's tower (st10nw/27) is locally attributed to subsidence of mine workings beneath it. The hillside shows traces of pits, adits, spoilheaps. Full extent of workings not explored in quick visit. Continues onto map st10nw.(griffith).

Westcott, A., 2024, Find of a Whetstone near a Whetstone Mine, Uffculm (Correspondence). SDV366132.

An unfinished, broken, and subsequently discarded whetstones; in this case it appears to have been nearing completion when broken, as it is close to the final shape of a finished whetstone. The whetstone was found protruding from the sand near the base of a spoil heap associated with a mine above the village of Blackborough, date unknown but probably later in the life of the mine, so mid to late 19th century. The whestone was found at ST 09492 09223. Images of the whestone are available.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV366132	Correspondence: Westcott, A.. 2024. Find of a Whetstone near a Whetstone Mine, Uffculm. Additional information for HER. Email.
	Linked images:2 Linked documents:1
SDV39896	Migrated Record: 1906.
SDV39897	Migrated Record: APH.
SDV39898	Migrated Record: Stanes, R. G. F..
SDV39899	Migrated Record:
SDV39900	Migrated Record:
SDV39901	Aerial Photograph:
SDV39902	Migrated Record:
SDV677	Report - Survey: Griffith, F. M..

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.