Huntingdon Mine (and its Leat Systems)

Around 1km north from the junction of Western Wella Brook with the River Avon there are the remains of a 19th century mine, which had attracted the Victorian Adventurers due to historical late Medieval openworks being located there. The mine sett is thought to have been first worked from about 1839 to 1843 when it was generally known as Huntingdon Mine. We know this as in 1839, the North Devon Journal reported that a miner from Huntingdon Mine was arrested for sheep stealing and in July 1843 it was put up for sale, being advertised in the Western Morning Times. At that time, the mine is known to have been drained by a 30ft waterwheel with 3ft 6in breast.

The mine was next worked as Avon Consols between 1851-54 (Hamilton-Jenkin), during which time a 200 fathoms adit was driven and an engine shaft sunk. At that time, the mine was drained by a 40ft waterwheel. Operations ceased at the mine in 1854 but appeared to have started up again by November 1857, as the death of a miner, named Hawk, was reported in the Western Times at this time.

A new company called Devon Wheal Vor around 1858/59 worked the sett. It is thought to have re-opened briefly in 1859 with new investment but by November 1860, the latest company was in financial difficulties as evidenced by several court cases. The mine seems to have been closed in 1861/62, as the Western Daily Mercury reported the complaint of a creditor in April 1862. In 1863, yet another new company was formed as recorded in March of that year in the Tavistock Gazette. In May 1865, this latest company was in trouble with a court case being reported in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette. By July 1865, the mine was to be sold and the instructions given to the liquidator included the two water wheels of 40ft – this was reported in Western Morning News, with the mine being called Devon Consols Tin Mines (late Huntingdon Mine). The mine was never worked again in spite potential interest as there is a plan of the mine dated 1866.

The fabulous article from Dave Brewer in the Spring 1988 Dartmoor Magazine entitled “A Leat from the Avon” inspired the author to conduct an exploration of an area (having been to the area on dozens of occasions previously). This post (as per Dave Brewers article) starts near Lud Gate with the mysterious regulator stone / cross socket, then proceeds to the mine in the Western Wellabrook valley. A further visit with the Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group (DTRG) in August 2026, enabled the author to add some detail to the mine operations.

Bibliography

1. Dave Brewer – Spring 1988 – Dartmoor Magazine; entitled “A Leat from the Avon”
2. DTRG – 2016 – The Tinworking Landscape of Dartmoor in a European Context; Page 31
3. North Devon Journal – 1839
4. Western Times – 22 July 1843; 22nd November 1851; 14th November 1857
5. A.K Hamilton Jenkin – 2005 – Mines of Devon; Page 109
6. H.G. Dines – (1956) – Metalliferous Mining Region of South West England – pages 729/730
7. Western Morning News – 31st July 1861; 4th July 1865
8. Western Daily Mercury – 18th April 1862
9. Tavistock Gazette – 24th March 1864
10. Exeter and Plymouth Gazette – 26th May 1865
11. Mining Journal – 12th December 1863
12. Stephen Holley (DTRG Chairman) – August 2026 – Pers. Conv.