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Summary

Tamar Valley Mine, also known as Buttspill Mine and Green Valley Mine, opened in late 17th century and worked until late 19th century. Remains include ruins of engine house with attached stack and shafts. A number of shafts, spoil-tips, terraces and a trackway remain identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX46NW/514

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• MINE (Post Medieval to XIX - 1540 AD to 1900 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Tamar Valley Mine (Silver & Lead) shown. Map object based on this Source.

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

The visible earthworks correspond closely with depicted shafts and terraces and spoil dumps.

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

Tamar Valley Mine (Silver & Lead Disused) shown. Map object based on this Source.

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

The visible earthworks correspond closely with depicted shafts, possible extractive pits, terraces and spoil dumps.

Ordnance Survey, 1907, 111NW (Cartographic). SDV323423.

Syme Saunders, E. G., 1936, Plymouth Silver, 299-302 (Article in Serial). SDV340282.

Ramsden, J. V., 1952, Notes on the Mines of Devonshire, 91 (Article in Serial). SDV60737.

B 46 Buttspill, see Beer, Calstock. Lead and fluorspar. References, including Mining Journals of 1843-1845. Other details: Figure 1.

Hoskins, W. G., 1954, A New Survey of England: Devon, 332 (Monograph). SDV17562.

Devon County Council, 1970, Devon County Council, Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969, Register of Disused Tips, Vol. 1 (Report - Survey). SDV356723.

Mineral worked, silver and lead.
Waste material tipped.
Well covered and wooded.
Two location maps included, 1:10560 and 1:2500

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1971 - 1983, SX46NW10 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV340281.

Tamar Valley Mine, silver, lead. Now disused. The silver mines at Bere Alston were worked from about 1290 intermittently down to the late 19th century. An ordinance of 1298 shows that they were mined at the King's expense. Mudge's map marks a silver mine where traces of quarrying are shown.

Atkinson, 1988, Index of Mines (Unknown). SDV361827.

Buttspill, 1870-1886
Northwest of Bere Alston.
Production: 95 tons lead; 6508 oz silver 710 tons fluorspar; 20 tons pyrites.
Th ivy-covered shell of the engine house stands in dense wood.

Cranstone, D., 1991, Bere Alston Mines: Overall Assessment (Un-published). SDV359166.

The Bere Alston mines are documented from 1290 onwards, and the early features are ranged along a lead/silver vein running north-south from Butspill mine to South Tamar mine, interspersed with 19th century mines.

Cranstone, D., 1991, The Lead Industry, Site 1K (Report - non-specific). SDV90317.

19th century mine to the north; engine house ruin with boiler house, flywheel pit, loadings, and washing floor (intact?, though detailed features not visible). South end of site contains shafts and other earthworks, includes possible early buddling areas.
The 19th century washing floor is likely to retain undisturbed stratigraphy. The southern area retains stratigraphy and earthworks that may include medieval features.

Nance, R. W. + Nance, R. D., 1996, A Survey of Engine Houses on the Mines of South Devon, 118 (Article in Serial). SDV241746.

At the northern end of the eastern silver lode lies Buttspill Mine. Said to have been worked in Elizabethan times and operated intermittently throughout the 19th century under a variety of names. At the turn of that century it formed part of the Old Bere mines. In 1843 it was re-worked as the Green Valley Mine but changed hands shortly after and was re-named Wheal Fancy. In 1855 it was re-opened as Bere Alston United and a smelting furnace erected. At this time, attention was turned to the mine's reserves of fluorspar. Output records for both silver and fluorspar exist for the 1870's and, under the name of Tamar Valley, fluorspar was again produced during the mid 1880's. Other details: Figure 13, plate 1.

Dyer, M. J. + Manning, P. T., 1998, Objective 5B: Lower Tamar Valley Recreation and Land Management Iinitiative: Cultural Heritage Appraisal, 43 (Report - non-specific). SDV319814.

Buck, C., 1998, Preliminary Assessment of Industrial Sites of Archaeological Importance in the Tamar Valley, 53 (Report - Assessment). SDV336795.

Site visited on 11th March 1998. This mine site marks the north end of a silver/lead lode running north to south which starts near South Tamar Consols. Worked in Elizabethan times, and further documentary evidence suggests its operation in 1780's. In 19th century, documented as being operational from early years and by 1843, under the name of Green Valley Mine, an engine was erected. By 1855, re-opened as Berealston United, and a smelting furnace was erected. Main features consist of shafts (some fenced) and lode-back pits along the bottom of the valley, indicative of medieval/post-medieval mining; stamping/winding engine house with full height chimney, and three metre high boiler house walls. Site of smithy and magazine not visible in nearby working area. Capstan site visible north-west of engine house but related shafts not visible. Large spoil heap to north-west of engine house obscures probable furnace site.

Environment Agency, 2000-2019, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: Tamar Aerial Survey project area, LIDAR Environment Agency LAST RETURN 19-APR-2019 (Cartographic). SDV363954.

Terraces, hollows, pints and mounds are identifiable as earthworks.

Henry, A., 2001, Silver and Salvation: A Late Fifteenth Century Confessors Itinerary Throughout the Parish of Bere Ferrers, Devon, 17-63 (Article in Serial). SDV216264.

Possibly silver mine associated with tenement of Ezenridge noted in late 15th century document. Other details: Copy in parish file.

Claughton, P. F., 2003, Silver Mining in England and Wales, 1066-1500 (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV81879.

Rippon, S. + Claughton, P. + Smart, C., 2009, Mining in a Medieval Landscape: The Royal Silver Mines of the Tamar Valley, 69, 78 (Monograph). SDV344097.

A new silver mine was opened up at Butspill in the late 17th century. This was on the same mineralised crosscourse as the medieval workings, but well to the north, and there is no evidence to suggest that it was worked during the earlier period. It appears on a map dated to circa 1690, and is referred to as the 'New Works of the Silver Mines' in 1737. Other details: figure 4.3.

Ordnance Survey, 2010, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV344030.

Map object based on this Source.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2020-2021, Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology (AI&M project) (Interpretation). SDV363945.

Extensive earthwork remains associated with the Tamar Valley Mine are identifiable as earthworks on visualisations derived from lidar data captured in 2019.
Identifiable components to the east of the stream include a large spoil tip and terraced ground on which the smithy and engine house were built, and a trackway that extends to the south.
In the valley to the west of the stream shafts are identifiable as roughly circular pits and associated spoil. Six correspond with ‘Old Shafts’ depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25inch map but as many as twelve might be represented by the visible earthworks.
More irregular pits and surrounding spoil are identifiable immediately to the south at circa SX43756747. These correspond with two, possibly three further shafts depicted on First Edition map, but more closely match pits depicted on the 1904 Second Edition map that are probable indicative of expanded extractive activity.
Individual shaft monument records have not been amended.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV17562	Monograph: Hoskins, W. G.. 1954. A New Survey of England: Devon. A New Survey of England: Devon. A5 Hardback. 332.
SDV216264	Article in Serial: Henry, A.. 2001. Silver and Salvation: A Late Fifteenth Century Confessors Itinerary Throughout the Parish of Bere Ferrers, Devon. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 133. Photocopy + Digital. 17-63.
SDV241746	Article in Serial: Nance, R. W. + Nance, R. D.. 1996. A Survey of Engine Houses on the Mines of South Devon. Mining History: Bulletin PDMHS. The Archaeology of Mining and Metallurgy in South-West Britain. 13, Number 2. A4 Paperback. 118.
SDV319814	Report - non-specific: Dyer, M. J. + Manning, P. T.. 1998. Objective 5B: Lower Tamar Valley Recreation and Land Management Iinitiative: Cultural Heritage Appraisal. Exeter Archaeology Report. 98.60. A4 Stapled + Digital. 43.
SDV323423	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1907. 111NW. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 6 inch Map. Map (Paper).
SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336795	Report - Assessment: Buck, C.. 1998. Preliminary Assessment of Industrial Sites of Archaeological Importance in the Tamar Valley. Cornwall Archaeological Unit Report. A4 Stapled + Digital. 53.
	Linked documents:1
SDV340281	Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card: Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division. 1971 - 1983. SX46NW10. OSAD Card. Card Index + Digital.
SDV340282	Article in Serial: Syme Saunders, E. G.. 1936. Plymouth Silver. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 68. A5 Hardback. 299-302.
SDV344030	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2010. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital).
SDV344097	Monograph: Rippon, S. + Claughton, P. + Smart, C.. 2009. Mining in a Medieval Landscape: The Royal Silver Mines of the Tamar Valley. Mining in a Medieval Landscape: The Royal Silver Mines of the Tamar Valley. Paperback Volume. 69, 78.
SDV356723	Report - Survey: Devon County Council. 1970. Devon County Council, Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969, Register of Disused Tips, Vol. 1. Devon County Council. Mixed Archive Material.
SDV359166	Un-published: Cranstone, D.. 1991. Bere Alston Mines: Overall Assessment. A4 Stapled + Digital.
SDV361827	Unknown: Atkinson. 1988. Index of Mines. A4 single sheet.
SDV363945	Interpretation: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2020-2021. Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology (AI&M project). Historic England Research Report. Digital.
SDV363954	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 2000-2019. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution) EA: Tamar Aerial Survey project area. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR Environment Agency LAST RETURN 19-APR-2019.
SDV60737	Article in Serial: Ramsden, J. V.. 1952. Notes on the Mines of Devonshire. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. 84. A5 Hardback. 91.
SDV81879	Post-Graduate Thesis: Claughton, P. F.. 2003. Silver Mining in England and Wales, 1066-1500. University of Exeter Thesis. A4 Comb Bound + Digital.
SDV90317	Report - non-specific: Cranstone, D.. 1991. The Lead Industry. English Heritage Monuments Protection Programme Step 3 Site Assessments. A4 Unbound. Site 1K.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8345 - Tamar/Lidar; A Single Source Approach to Landscape Survey and Socially Distanced Community Archaeology (AI&M) (Ref: ACD2380)

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