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Summary

Building which housed the machinery for screening unwanted material from ore, on west side of engine house complex at Gawton Mine.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1002667: Gawton arsenic mine and flue

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• METAL PROCESSING SITE (XIX - 1894 AD to 1894 AD (Between))

Full description

Timms, S., 1985, An Archaeological Assessment of the Remains of the Quay, Mine and Arsenic Works at Gawton, Tavistock Hamlets, 10.2, appendix (Report - Assessment). SDV352213.

10.2 - Jigger house noted on sources dated 1895, 1906, 1953, 1984. Fair condition. Built 1895.

Dixon, T. + Matthews, A. + Pye A. R. + Slater, W. D., 1988, Gawton Mine and Arsenic Works. The Field Survey. 1988, 40 (Report - Survey). SDV222516.

The jigger house consists of a long rectangular structure located below and to the west of the engine house, partly terraced into the natural rock. The northern wall is built of shillet, with shillet piers built where necessary to support the roof. The structure is now completely open at the west end. Two shillet lined channels run down each side of the structure, merging at the west end to run out towards the shute and the dumps. Other details: Figure 20.

Buck, C., 2006, Gawton Mine, Devon: Archaeological Assessment, 37 (Report - Assessment). SDV344672.

Structure labelled 'Jigger Mill' on plan of 1895. This automated building, powered by the engine house, housed the machinery to screen out unwanted material which after processing would have gone down to the calciners for burning. Water would have been used from the reservoir pond in great quantities for this process. The ground space within which the jigger house was built can be seen, although it is densely overgrown. Bedrock has been removed on the south and east sides to create a platform, which is now visible, as are some of the extant masonry pillars on the north side of the building. Trial pits undertaken in the 1970s revealed that the floor was in good condition, with machine plinths and bolts in situ, as well as a quantity of crushed and treated ore. Other details: Figure 36, site 37.

Buck, C., 2006, Gawton Mine, Devon: Impact Assessment Report, 22-23 (Report - Assessment). SDV348353.

The Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project has proposed that a programme of building conservation and public safety works be undertaken to a number of sites within Gawton Quay and Mine. A visit to the site of the Jigger house demonstrates the number of trees and ground vegetation affecting the feature. This will only be removed where the structural stability of the side walls is threatened, and where removal will aid the interpretation of the site. Safety fencing will have to be erected along the south side, as there is a nearly vertical drop of 3 metres to the former Jigger floor, but there will be no ground disturbance of any buried Jigger house features. Other details: Figure 4, site 37; figure 11.

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

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4746 - Archaeological Assessment of Gawton Mine, Devon
• EDV4747 - Field Survey of Gawton Mine

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