Caroline Wheal Prosper

This sketch map is based on the survey produced by Newman / Probert in 2004 which was based on a mine plan. The footpath shown is the approx. boundary of open access to private land. The OS map (from 1956) provides a contextual location for the mine. The small quarry is in an area of land called ‘Pieces’ as identified on the 1843 Tithe Map.

This annotated LiDAR plot shows the features of the mine covered in this post

The announcement that Caroline Wheal Prosper had opened appeared in the Devonport Journal in April 1854 and in the Mining Journal (MJ) in June 1854 (as shown above). It confirms that the venture was where the ‘old miners’ workings’ had taken place ‘hundreds of years back’. A 2ft wide lode, nearly all tin is recorded. The MJ entry does suggest that there was a 40ft x 3ft waterwheel being set to work with 24 head of stamps planned to be completed by August 1854. A second wheel was erected a year later (covered later in this post)

The photographic record in this post starts on Lambs Down. A short distance to the north of the main shaft (Williams) and tin pits is this shallow raised mound (or platform). But what was its origin?

The mound is located at SX69537 65699. It might well be connected with the mine operations (perhaps a structure was here – maybe wooden). Therefore, the mound may be just building foundations. It does look like a pillow mound albeit there is no drainage trench around it as one might normally see.

Williams Shaft (named after the Mine Captain) was sunk to a depth of 100ft, albeit there is evidence from the abandoned mining plan (DRO AMP R79F) that it had been intended to sink the shaft to at least 500ft. The mining plan depicts five tin lodes which are aligned east-west from the Dean Burn. Only one lode was ever developed, which is where this shaft is located

William’s Shaft measures 16 metres by 14 metres by 3 metres deep. The shaft is located at SX69495 65641

There is a small finger-shaped spoil heap on the east side which is likely to be where material was removed during the sinking of the shaft

Extract from ‘The Metalliferous Mining Region of South-West England’, pages 739/740 by H.G.Dines. The record here shows William’s Shaft was 15 fms (90 ft) deep, with adit level only 6 fms (36 ft). Dines mentions at least five lodes with the one worked by William’s Shaft as being 8 ft wide

On the north east side of the shaft is an opening, which is may lead to shallow adit

The opening at the edge of the shaft is located at SX69499 65642

There are some shallow trial shafts / pits near William’s Shaft may be from an a pre-1850 period of prospecting.

From a point adjacent to the north of William’s Shaft there are the remains of the inclined tramway, which can be traced nearly 700m downhill to the east directly to the dressing floor near the Dean Burn. The tramway is built onto a small embankment on the open moorland section as shown in the photograph

The earthwork remains of the inclined tramway to the east of William’s Shaft

The line of the inclined tramway looking east towards Larkham Woods

Exploring the inclined tramway. The channel appears to be where earth was piled up to make an embankment. Note the shallow mound (previously shown in this post) in the open grassy area to the upper left part of the photograph

Another view of the inclined tramway. Note the line of walling which delineates the open access moorland from private farmland leading down to Larkham Woods below

Wide reaching views to the South Hams from the inclined tramway

38 metres east of William’s Shaft is this open adit. The shaft is where the tree is on the horizon. This open adit corresponds to the ‘shallow adit’ depicted on the abandoned mine plan. There is a narrow gully leading from the adit portal where perhaps hand barrows of waste material were taken to be dumped on the spoil heaps below – there is a long linear ‘finger’ dump around 100m down the hill

Exploring shallow adit (2025)

DTRG member exploring shallow adit in March 2026

Shallow adit entrance can be found at SX69535 65660

The entrance of the shallow adit

It is thought that the adit is open back to the shaft, where it is blocked by backfill.

Entry from Mining Journal from December 1854. Hamilton Jenkin records that the Williams Shaft had been sunk to a depth of 15 fathoms a year later than this. One assumes this entry refers to the shaft and not the deep adit at the dressing floor

Share information regarding 5000 shares for Caroline Wheal Prosper from the Mining Journal on 30th December 1854. Interesting that the title is ‘Mines not having sold ores’.

Just over 100m further down the hillside (east) from the shallow adit there is a 36m-long linear spoil heap

The end of the linear spoil heap is where the (left) tree can be seen in the photograph

The tree at the end of the spoil is located within a shallow depression. On first impressions the depression doesn’t look natural – that said, this might have been the level of the ground before the waste material was dumped on the spoil heap above. There was a lower adit depicted on the abandoned mine plan but there is no field evidence at this particular location (if it was ever driven at all?)

To the south of William’s Shaft there is a gully which looks like an openwork (see LiDAR in this post). The ‘openwork’ is bordered by a wall to the north and has small stony ‘dams’ across it, which one assumes is part of the peat restoration project (picture from 2025)

Stony dam within the openwork with the earthworks near Williams Shaft beyond

In the English Heritage (Newman) report records that if there was a lower adit as suggested on the mine plan it may “have been sited in the canyon of the tributary” (see photograph).

Onto private land below the footpath, following the inclined tramway east towards Larkham Woods. Whearas the upper portion of the inclined tramway was on a raised embankment, the construction changes to a terraced cutting running along the side and down the slope of the valley further down. The size of embankment and cuttings suggesting it was single track only

On a plot of land called ‘Pieces’ on the Tithe of 1843 a dug out area can be found which is thought to have been a quarry. It may well have been used in the construction of the nearby Lambs Down Farm (which was occupied until the 1840s, appearing on the 1841 census but not the 1851 census). More information about the farm can be found here: Lambsdown Farmstead – Dartmoor Explorations

The ‘quarry’ is located at SX69720 65758. The author has a theory that stone for Lambs Down Farm was quarried here, then after the farm was abandoned the stone was ‘recycled’ and used for the mine wheelhouse and buildings in Larkham Woods – there is no documentary evidence to support this theory but the timeline fits perfectly

Into Larkham Woods following the inclined tramway.

Looking back up the slope of the inclined tramway. From William’s Shaft down to the dressing floor the tramway falls by around 125m. The venturers must have expected an enormous quantity of ore from William’s Shaft for such an enormous investment of effort and cash, in building the tramway.

According to the mine plan there were flatrods running more or less parallel to the inclined tramway from the wheelhouse up to William’s Shaft. Newman records that the “course of the rods is depicted on the abandoned mines plan leading up the slopes of Lambs Down to the west. It is shown with only one angle and two completely straight sections and appears to pass beneath the tramway about half way along. The only indication of its course surviving on the ground is a terraced cutting in the hill slope 120m west of the wheelpit”. These features were not photographed by the author during his visit.

The inclined tramway being cut into the natural slope of the hillside

Where the inclined tramway has been cut by a modern forest track its course continues through very thick and brush and brambles. An alternative route to the dressing floor needs to be found from here.

Just above a forest track around 50 metres to the south of the inclined tramway is a crescent shaped reservoir, which appears to have once provided water for the openwork above the wheelhouse.

The reservoir has an obvious central sluice opening which can be seen in the photograph (the bank having been disturbed at some time since its abandonment)

The reservoir pre-dates 1850 possibly by hundreds of years. It seems that it might have been fed via a diverted channel of the small tributary of Dean Burn which runs parallel to the inclined tramway (east-west direction). Also, it is possible it was supplemented using rainwater run-off collected from the slopes of Lambs Down, although the expert wisdom suggests this is less likely.

Nearing the bottom of the inclined tramway (below the reservoir).

Almost at the terminal point of the inclined tramway

The authors sketch map above is based on the fabulous survey plan produced by Phil Newman and Simon Probert for English Heritage circa 2004. The inclined tramway terminates at the (unlabelled) curved wall just below the label ‘adit’ which is adjacent to the wheelhouse. The terrain here is very steep as is indicated by the light green shapes. The ‘Old Men’s Workings’ is where water from the reservoir would have been diverted.

Close to the bottom of the inclined tramway. The ‘curved wall’ is just out of sight and the rock cut openwork and deep adit is behind the large tree in the photograph. The wheelhouse is the obvious dark area. Note the figure in the photograph for scale.

Mining Journal extract from 14th April 1855. The entry mentions ‘deep adit’ which is immediately to the west of the wheelhouse and under the ‘Old Men’s Workings’. The ‘shallow adit’ is the one recorded in this post by William’s Shaft. They were engaged in preparing the ground for the dressing floor and wheelhouse at this time. The wheel was being purchased from South Plain Wood Mine, near Holne. This was the second wheel recorded in the Mining Journal in little under a year – 1854 / 1855. W (William) William’s, the Mine Captain appears to be the author of the report alongside a J. Williams, who one assumes was a relation (possibly a son, brother or nephew). This authors eye was drawn to what appears to have almost been a ‘throw away’ comment which states a lode “…is not at present rich for tin” – perhaps foretelling the future of this venture?

This curved section of wall lies above the wheelhouse and adit as depicted on the sketch map

This curved section of wall has been recorded as might having been: a) associated with either a balance bob for the waterwheel or b) part of a mechanism to enable the flat rods to negotiate the steep changes in the profile of the slope. There is mention of the use of a ‘drawing machine’ having been considered hereabouts (MJ – 23rd June 1855) and the author wonders if this was part of it?

This curved section of wall is located at SX70116 65859

Mining Journal entry for 23rd June 1855. An upbeat entry by Williams and Williams suggesting tin will be found soon at shallow adit. They also state that the ‘deep level adit’ was looking more promising. The wheel puchased from South Plain Wood Mine, near Holne had been ‘fixed’ and was working well. They were also preparing a drawing machine to ‘work on the other side of the wheel’ (was this where the curved wall is located, assuming the stamps lay on the flattish area on the north side of the wheelhouse?). There is a record here of some tin being sold in Truro.

Overlooking the wheelhouse and dressing floor with the Dean Burn far below

Side view of the wheelhouse (left) with the dressing floor to the right (east), where there are two buddles

Stone-cut channel is just above the ‘deep adit’ portal. Note the small ‘cliff’ adjacent to it

This stone-cut channel is just above the ‘deep adit’ portal. It is thought that it may have been an adapted section of an early working for the course of the flat rods

Photograph taken from above the deep adit looking east into the remains of the wheelhouse. Cited by Tom Greeves (1981), a gold coin of Henry VI (1422-61,1470-71) was discovered in 1855 by men building the wheelpit / wheelhouse just in front of the deep adit. One assumes they were finishing off the structure in 1855 as it has been recorded that a 40ft wheel and 24 stamps were in place by November the year before (1854)

22. Above adit looking down on wheelhouse

Another view from above deep adit looking down onto the wheelhouse

Part of the 450m-long leat which took water off the Dean Burn. The leat width is up to 3m by 0.6m deep in places. The water fed the obvious wheel which was housed in the wheelhouse whose remains are recorded here. That said, surviving documentation hints there once may have been two waterwheels.

Entrance to the deep adit, located between the wheelhouse and the stone-cut channel where the old men’s workings were (located above)

The entrance to the deep adit is located at SX70129 65870

This adit was mentioned by Mine Captain William Williams’ report in the Mining Journal (24th June 1854) by virtue of stating they had “got under” the “old miners’ workings”. The light coming from the adit is from two members of the DTRG

Looking down into the wheelhouse. It is located to the west of a level shelf (where the buddles are located) and against the steep rockface, just in front of the adit. The length of the wheelhouse is around 9m

By November 1854, it was reported that all the machinery had been installed at Caroline Wheal Prosper by Messrs Gray and Oatey of the Wadebridge Foundry which consisted of a waterwheel and 24 heads of stamps (ref: Hamilton Jenkin (2005) – page 111). The wheel was 40ft and was the first (of two) to use the wheelhouse. The original wheel was started at a ceremony with the adventurers assembled. The purser’s wife, Mrs Hamilton, pronounced success to the mine, ratifying the same by the sacrifice of a bottle of champagne on the wheel, which ‘immediately commenced its majestic gyrations’. There was also a celebration of the new venture twhen shareholders dined at the Churchwarden’s Hotel and the miners and labourers were treated to dinner at the Waterman’s Arms in Buckfastleigh (Devonport Journal – 30.11.1854)

The wheelhouse contains a rather splendid 1.1 m-diameter arched opening (exit portal)

The exit portal archway. In spite being over 170 years old, the archway is remarkably preserved and the construction must be admired

Looking inside the rock-cut exit portal / tunnel.

The exit portal leads into a curved tunnel

The tunnel is around 12 metres long. Picture courtesy of Matthew Johnson

The exit portal is on the south east side of the wheelhouse

The end of the rock-cut tunnel (tail race) from the wheelhouse. Light can be seen in the photograph from the arched exit portal at the wheelhouse. Picture courtesy of Matthew Johnson

Looking at the wheelhouse from below. The wheelhouse was built in 1854 (ref: Mining Journal – 24th June 1854). It housed a 40ft wheel which was installed by November that year and drove 24 heads of stamps. Another wheel was installed in April 1855 and was purchased from South Plain Wood Mine near Holne Bridge (Mining Journal – 23rd June 1855). The stamps were (most likely) located on the north side of the wheelhouse (to the right of the structure), albeit there is no remains to definitively support this.

Looking across the dressing floor towards the wheelhouse. Mine records imply that another stamping mill (the first ?) was still operational while the second (with the wheelhouse) was being installed. The mine plan (DRO AMP R79F) indicates a second waterwheel, which was located just below the tail race (left side of the photograph) which had ’16 stamps’. There are no remains of a second wheelpit today.

There are two buddles to the east of the wheelhouse. The northern buddle is an unusual lozenge shape and immediately below and to the south is a second buddle of rectangular outline

View of the lozenge shaped buddle (long axis is 4.5m and a width is 2.1m).

Wheelhouse and dressing floor from the east. The rectangular buddle measures 4.3m by 2.3m

Not far from the east bank of the Dean Burn is the probable location of another adit, which is probably one which Williams mentions in a report of 14th July 1854 (‘work commenced on driving a deep adit east’). There is a narrow gully here with some spoil, leading to a blocked portal. The location is SX7018065865

On the east side of the Dean Burn is the ruin of a stone building

On the abandoned mine plan the building is annotated as a house and office

The building was probably single story

This photograph of the building was taken at SX70173 65879

The building has three internal dividing walls creating four compartments

The overall length of the building is 23.5m and is 5.5m wide (Newman)

A powder house / magazine building is located around 15m north of the house and office. It is built on and against a rocky outcrop / tor

The structure is square at around 2m x 2m

The walls are quite thick at around 0.5m and survive to around 1.5m high. The photograph shows a contextual view in relation to the Dean Burn

The powder house / magazine is located at SX70161 65918

The final known entry in the Mining Journal relating to Caroline Wheal Prosper is dated 22nd October 1859. The article indicates the operations had been suspended for more than two years, suggesting circa 1857 for the closure of operations. The article is very scathing of Capt. William V. Williams stating : ‘The career of the mine has been remarkable for its recklessness in the Ashburton district……The quantity of tin supposed to be discovered was so great that thirty heads of stamps were erected, and a long railway was laid down from the shaft to the floors’. So £8000 spent (equivalent to £1.3M in 2026) for a hearsay 10cwts of tin! Of note in the record is stating there were 30 heads of stamps…the 1854 wheel drove 24 head of stamps, so perhaps its replacement purchased from South Plain Wood Mine near Holne Bridge in 1855 drove an extra 6 heads ?

Behind the powder house (magazine) there is an un-named cliff outcrop. As there is no provenance, the author has named it Larkham Woods Tor

Larkham Woods Tor at SX7017 6591

The photograph shows where the track on the east bank of the Dean Burn, where a bridge once stood. The bridge would have been constructed from timber. Newman records this crossing thus: “…….for all that remains of it today is a two-sided stone revetted abutment of 9m by 4m by 1.2m high on the east side of the river and a length of revetment some 15m long on the opposite side”

Climbing the hill to the east out of the Dean Burn valley, described in Mines of Devon (Hamilton Jenkin) as a ‘gorge’. Where the tributary meets the Dean Burn can be seen clearly

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