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HER Number: | MDV61767 |
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Name: | Leat from Head Weir to Mount's Foundry, Tavistock |
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Summary
Leat which brought water from the River Tavy to Mount's Foundry. It also supplied water to a hydro-electric installation at one time. The leat is now partly infilled.
Location
Grid Reference: | SX 488 749 |
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Map Sheet: | SX47SE |
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Admin Area | Devon |
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Civil Parish | Tavistock |
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District | West Devon |
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Ecclesiastical Parish | TAVISTOCK |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses
- Old DCC SMR Ref: SX47SE/337/1
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- LEAT (XIX - 1801 AD to 1900 AD)
Full description
Ordnance Survey, 1855-1895, First Edition 1:500 Town Map (Cartographic). SDV338879.
Map object based on this source.
Monuments Protection Programme, 1999, Electric Power (Additionals) Site Assessment Form (Un-published). SDV350358.
Site visit on 4th June 1999. To the north of the power house is a concrete-lined leat that brought water from a weir (opposite Kelly College) on the River Tavy. This leat also supplied a hydro-electric installation, now demolished, run by Farm Industries Ltd. The surviving iron grill, leaf scraping mechanism and sluice give on to a large header tank against the power house. A concrete overflow curves around the power house to the west.
Warren, S., 2002, Evaluation. Listed Foundry Building. Parkwood Road, Tavistock, 5.1; photos 13-14 (Report - Evaluation). SDV348734.
Photos of sluice mechanisms on the disused leat to the north of the listed foundry building.
Wessex Archaeology, 2006, Mount Foundry, Tavistock, Devon. Building Recording, 5, 8; plates 8-9 (Report - non-specific). SDV347975.
The leat, which ran along the northern boundary of the site, had been infilled and was very overgrown. The various sluiced which once fed the water wheels had either been removed/demolished or covered with concrete.
Trevarthen, M., 2009, Mount Foundry, Tavistock. An Early 19th Century Iron and Brass Foundry in West Devon, 219; figures 5-7 (Article in Serial). SDV344802.
Immediately north of the excavations lies a terraced aqueduct (the upper leat). This formerly drew the water necessary to power the foundry's water-wheels from the Tavy upstream before discharging via several leats, culverts and overflow channels into a lower leat (now culverted) along the southern edge of the site, and ultimately into the medieval Millbrook.
Ordnance Survey, 2012, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV348725.
Map object based on this source.
Rainbird, P., 2016, Mount Kelly College Olympic Legacy 50m Swimming Pool, Tavistock, Devon: Archaeological Recording (Report - Watching Brief). SDV361366.
Archaeological recording was carried out by AC archaeology between November 2015 and July 2016 during the construction of a new swimming pool at Mount Kelly College, Tavistock, Devon (NGR SX 49113 75153). The archaeological features of interest were the former leat for the Mount Foundry and the earlier Town Leat/Mill Brook. Historic mapping showed that the Mount Foundry leat crossed the development area and was filled in during the second half of the 20th century. Its line was represented by a shallow earthwork which was subject to topographic survey although topsoil stripping for a parking area did not find any further evidence for the position of the Mount Foundry leat.
It is concluded that the remains of the leat remained buried under late 20th century made ground. The Town Leat/Mill Brook was present as a dry stone-line ditch adjacent to Parkwood Road and was largely undisturbed by the development. The junction between the two leats remains extant and a basic record was made.
Waterhouse, R., 2017, The Tavistock Canal. Its History and Archaeology, 243, fig 2.9 (Monograph). SDV361789.
See publication for full details and plan.
Wreford, M., 21/01/1999, Old Plant - Tavistock (Un-published). SDV350357.
Site visit on 20th January 1999. The leat is now empty, although there is a grid still in place. The leaf scrapping mechanism is disintegrated.
Frederick Sherrell Limited, Apr 2012, Proposed Olympic Swimming Pool at Kelly College, Tavistock, Devon, 3, 4, Photo 3, 5 (Report - Assessment). SDV359540.
The leat has been infilled or blocked off where it runs through Kelly College, although it may contain water runoff.
Sources / Further Reading
SDV338879 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1855-1895. First Edition 1:500 Town Map. First Edition 1:500 Town Map. Map (Digital). |
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SDV344802 | Article in Serial: Trevarthen, M.. 2009. Mount Foundry, Tavistock. An Early 19th Century Iron and Brass Foundry in West Devon. Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society. 67. Paperback Volume. 219; figures 5-7. |
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SDV347975 | Report - non-specific: Wessex Archaeology. 2006. Mount Foundry, Tavistock, Devon. Building Recording. Wessex Archaeology Report. 63990.02. A4 Stapled + Digital. 5, 8; plates 8-9. |
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SDV348725 | Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2012. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey. Map (Digital). |
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SDV348734 | Report - Evaluation: Warren, S.. 2002. Evaluation. Listed Foundry Building. Parkwood Road, Tavistock. A4 Grip Bound + Digital. 5.1; photos 13-14. |
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SDV350357 | Un-published: Wreford, M.. 21/01/1999. Old Plant - Tavistock. A4 Single Sheet. |
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SDV350358 | Un-published: Monuments Protection Programme. 1999. Electric Power (Additionals) Site Assessment Form. Monument Protection Programme. A4 Unbound. |
SDV359540 | Report - Assessment: Frederick Sherrell Limited. Apr 2012. Proposed Olympic Swimming Pool at Kelly College, Tavistock, Devon. Frederick Sherrell Ltd Report. 3751. Digital. 3, 4, Photo 3, 5. |
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SDV361366 | Report - Watching Brief: Rainbird, P.. 2016. Mount Kelly College Olympic Legacy 50m Swimming Pool, Tavistock, Devon: Archaeological Recording. AC Archaeology. ACD1013/2/0. Digital. |
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SDV361789 | Monograph: Waterhouse, R.. 2017. The Tavistock Canal. Its History and Archaeology. The Tavistock Canal. Its History and Archaeology. Paperback Volume. 243, fig 2.9. |
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Associated Monuments
MDV61766 | Related to: Hydro-Electric Installation, Woolcombers Textile Mill, Tavistock (Monument) |
MDV19146 | Related to: Mill Brook, Tavistock (Monument) |
MDV4093 | Related to: Mount Foundry, Tavistock (Monument) |
MDV78213 | Related to: Woollen Mill, Parkwood Road,Tavistock (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- EDV6940 - Desk Study Report for proposed Olympic Swimming Pool at Kelly College, Tavistock (Ref: 3751)
- EDV9127 - Archaeological Recording: Mount Kelly College Olympic Legacy 50m Swimming Pool, Tavistock, Devon (Ref: ACD1013/2/0)
Date Last Edited: | Oct 10 2024 2:26PM |
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