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Summary

Remains of smithy at Gawton Mine, located to the south-west of the Mine Captain's House.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1002667: Gawton arsenic mine and flue

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX46NE/527/17
• Old SAM County Ref: 1024

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BLACKSMITHS WORKSHOP (XVIII to XXI - 1751 AD to 2009 AD)

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1880s, Ordnance Survey (Cartographic). SDV848.

'Smithy' shown on 1880s 25" OS map as a rectangular building c11m x 6m.

Timms, S., 1985, An Archaeological Assessment of the Remains of the Quay, Mine and Arsenic Works at Gawton, Tavistock Hamlets, 4.2, appendix (Report - Assessment). SDV352213.

4.2 - Building to south-west of houses (4.1). Noted on source dating to 1908 ('smithy'), 1953, 1984. Fair condition.

Dixon, T. + Matthews, A. + Pye A. R. + Slater, W. D., 1988, Gawton Mine and Arsenic Works. The Field Survey. 1988, 21 (Report - Survey). SDV222516.

Smithy located to south west of Mine Captain's house complex (PRN 43338) and seems to be a ater addition. Presumably pre-dates 1890s incline along its south west side. Irregular shape. Shillet with brick inclusions. Two brick built furnaces or ovens, with external stokeholes or flues, located inside south and east walls. Similar structure inside north wall, but without evident flue. Evidence of doorway at north east corner and windows in east and south walls. One storey, with fragments of north and south gable ends surviving. Other details: Fig 15, pls 11-12. Survey Spring/Summer 1988.

Weddell, P. J. + Pye, A. R., 1989, Gawton Mine and Arsenic Works: The Documentary Research 1988 (Report - non-specific). SDV263249.

Buck, C., 2003, Gawton Mine, Devon, Fig 5 (Report - Survey). SDV222530.

A fallen tree had damaged the south wall of the smithy at gawton mine in 2003 and repair was recommended.

Buck, C., 2006, Gawton Mine, Devon: Archaeological Assessment, 54 (Report - Assessment). SDV344672.

This building is largely ruinous, although there is evidence for a doorway, windows, walls and remains of some brick furnaces on the inside of the southern and eastern walls. A tree has fallen on the top of the south wall, damaging the top surface and creating a substantial loading against the side of a wall that has already partially collapsed. The wall is of curious design and is built to a point as opposed to a rectangular shape. Other details: Figure 36, site 56.

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), 141-142, Photograph 77 and 78 (Report - Survey). SDV366131.

The original site of the Smithy was located to the north-west in what is now Maddacleave Wood, but after Kings Shaft (Site No. 58) was sunk in 1863 it was relocated closer to the main workings. In 2006 the building was found to be largely ruinous, although there was some evidence for a doorway, windows, walls, and the remains of some brick furnaces on the interior southern and eastern walls. A tree had collapsed onto the top of the south wall. Also, the wall’s lime mortar had been weathered away, making it more unstable. It was recommended that the top of the south wall should be removed, rebedded then capped, and the building should be repointed with lime mortar and the walls heads capped.
As in 2006, the Smithy was found to be in a ruinous and overgrown condition. Both north and south end walls were legible as upstanding structural elements but heavily overgrown. The side walls comprised low standing and barely visible overgrown remains. The doorway, windows, and remains of some interior brick furnaces, identified in 2006, were not apparent. The Smithy was assessed to be in poor condition. The remains of the Smithy will contain some evidential and historical value relating to the main phases of copper and arsenic extraction during the second half of the 19th century. On this basis, the Smithy is considered to have medium significance relative to other features and structures on Site. The ruins should be left undisturbed but should sufficient funds become available in the future then the remains should be cleared of vegetation and their structural competency re-assessed. Other details: Site No. 56.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV3185 - Unnamed Event
• EDV4746 - Archaeological Assessment of Gawton Mine, Devon
• EDV4747 - Field Survey of Gawton Mine
• EDV9132 - Gawton Mine, Devon- Costed and Prioritised Proposals for Capital Works for the Conservation and Management of Gawton Mine Scheduled Monument

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