Dartmoor Explorations

A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park

Knack Mine and environs

Knack Tin Mine (also known as Steeperton Tin Mine) was worked between 1850s and 1879. It is thought is may relate to Wheal Virgin due to the location of the tinners bondstone. The licence for “Steeperton Tor sett” was granted in 1853, but it wasn’t until the 1870’s when the majority of mining activity in the area took place. It was recorded that in 1878, one ton of black tin was sold and at that time 27 men were employed. This came one year after a waterwheel (purchased from Gobbett Mine) had been purchased. The apparent success proved short lived as the following year (1879) the mine was in liquidation. In the following two years (1880-1881), all the mine plant and equipment was sold by auction. (Reference: Dartmoor HER). Walking the military track between Oke Tor and Hangingstone Hill, one may assume that the area has little of interest (albeit it lies in the beautiful Taw valley). However, the explorer can still discover many remnants of the mining activities which once took place. This post attempts to record the most prominent features of the mine and its immediate environs, which includes some military artefacts.

Map
Sketch map showing the key features covered in this post.
0. Knack Mine General
Track from Oke Tor leading down to Knack Mine Ford
1. Knack Mine Ford
Knack Mine Ford, which on the 1949 OS map states there were remains of a clapper bridge here. The clapper bridge was reported to have spanned the River Taw by Prowse in 1890.
2. Knack Mine Ford
There are a number of imposts at the ford whose orientation is their long sides lie north / south, in line with the flow of the River Taw. This ford is now part of a military track and it is believed that these imposts were robbed from the former bridge. The date of destruction is unknown.
3. Tinners Building a
The main Knack mine building, lies on a flat ledge above the Taw. It comprises 2 compartments which are separated by a cross-wall. Both compartments have entrances on the East (river side). The building is recorded as probably being the Smithy and the Mine Office.
4. Tinners Building b
The Dartmoor HER records the Northern compartment as measuring internally 9.8m x 4.5m and the southern as 7.5m x 4.3m.
5. Tinners Building c
A fireplace has been constructed in the West wall of the South compartment. The centre of the building was recorded by the author as being at SX61401 88474
6. Tinners Building d
Zoomed in view of the Mine Building taken from across the Taw by the Hangingstone Hill track.
7. Platform a
This stone built platform measures approx 16m x 11m and is related to Knack Mine. However, its purpose is unknown, albeit it is located close to a buddle and a wheel pit.
8. Platform b
The walling on the platform survives to a height of around 1m. The platform can be found at SX61388 88391
9. Wheelpit a
The wheelpit was dug in 1877 for a 30ft waterwheel which was brought from Gobbett Mine. The Dartmoor HER records that at one point there was a Stamping Mill here with machinery purchased from Gobbett Mine at a cost of 65 pounds in 1877. The purchase included a stamps water wheel, spur wheel shaft bearings, a stamp axle with frames and 12 heads. The location of the stamping mill is now very difficult to discern.
10. Wheelpit b
The wheelpit is recorded in the Dartmoor HER as being “filled-in and forming an ill-defined rectangular depression approx 9m x 2.5m”. The wheelpit can be found at SX61419 88379.
11. Wheelpit c
The wheelpit has an associated underground ‘lobby’ which is still visible. It is approx. 9m from the end of the pit. It is rock-cut and is recorded as being 0.9m wide with a height of 0.7m
12. Wheelpit d
The wheelpit “exit lobby” can be found at SX61411 88390
13. Leat 1 a
Looking up the Taw valley showing the line of Leat 1 (see map), which fed the waterwheel at the mine.
14. Buddle a
Dr Tom Greeves records that there is a round buddle at the mine which can still be located. The author believes this reedy area in this photograph is the most likely location of the buddle.
15. Buddle b
The reedy area is approx 5m diameter, which is consistent with the description of the buddle. The description also states the buddle has a depth of 0.4m which is also consistent with this location. The probable buddle location is SX61393 88327.
16. Large split rock
This unusually split rock has evidence of the “hand of man”. If this splitting isn’t natural, or at least man assisted, one wonders what use the pieces would have been. The rock can be found at SX61409 88345.
17. Knack Mine General View a
General views of Knack Mine looking across the River Taw as viewed from the south east.
18. Knack Mine Workings a
There are two parallel gullies near to the river bank between adits (see later pictures) and the mine building. Assuming the author has correctly identified these (from Dartmoor HER description) these may be trial adits or possible quarries for the mine structures.
19. Knack Mine Overview a
Ascending the hill to get a better perspective of the mine
20 Knack Mine Overview b
The wheelpit and platform in relation to the Hangingstone Hill track and the River Taw.
21. Knack Mine Leats a
On the west side of the valley there were two leats. Leat 1 seems to have been the main water supply for the waterwheel. Leat 2 may have been an newer “cut”. Dr Tom Greeves in the Dartmoor HER states that Leat 2 possibly provided supplementary supply when the dam (relating to Leat 1 and shown later in this post) was in use.
22. Probable Adit a
The Dartmoor HER records the mine having at least 3 blocked adits dating from the 1870s.
23. Probable Adit b
This probable adit was recorded at SX61281 88365.
24. Probable Adit c
All the workings associated with the mine are on an east-west alignment. All the shafts / adits now appear as depressions in the hillside.
25. Probable Adit D
This picture is taken from above (in relation to the previous picture) and shows the adit position above the valley and in relation to Steeperton Tor. The east-west alignment of the workings most likely represent the ‘black lode’ with the adits being for ‘shallow level’ and ‘deep level’ entry into the hillside.
26. Tinners Open Workings
A shallow gully in the workings on an east-west orientation.
27. Wheal Virgin a
The Wheal Virgin Stone is a Tinners’ bound stone. It can be found at the west end of one of the Knack mine gullies.
28. Wheal Virgin b
The Wheal Virgin Stone has the letters “WV” incised on its west face. The stone can be found at SX61257 88428
29. Wheal Virgin c
The stone is believed relate to an late 18th or early 19th century called Wheal Virgin
30. Tree
A solitary tree by the Taw and close to the mine. At the time this picture was taken, the tree had a number of bees buzzing around the upper branches.
31. Leats
Following Leat 1 south to its take off point with Leat 2 above.
32. Leat 3
Following Leat 1 upstream to its take off point and looking across the mine workings the distinct line of another leat (marked Leat 3 on the map) can be discerned. The leat passes through the workings of the mine, though it is not associated with them.
33. Leat 1
Leat 1 looking north
34. Tinners Workings
More tinners’ workings or “open cut” to the south of the main mine, looking across the Taw from Leat 1.
35. Leat 1
As the Taw valley enters a shallow basin the take off point for Leat 1 can (just about) be discerned.
36. Leat 1 Take Off
The approx position of Leat 1 take off point. The location is not fully obvious.
37. Tinners Dam
The tinners built an earth dam in 1877 to divert water from the Taw into Leat 1 in order to provide power for the waterwheel.
38. Ockside Hill Rocks
Just above Leat 1 take off are a number of isolated rocks. Upstream are rocks named by Eric Hemery as “Taw Rocks”. These rocks may simply be “outliers” of Taw Rocks, albeit they are are some distance away. In the absence of a name, the this author will refer to them as Ockside Rocks (as they are at the base of Ockside Hill). They can be found at SX61048 87740.
39. Leat 3
On top of Ockside Rocks looking south. Leat 3 take off is quite a bit further to the south from this point. The whole leat can be traced from the Taw to a point on the ridge mid-way between the Knack mine and Oke Tor. Its purpose is unclear.
40. Leat 1 Take Off b
Taken from Leat 3. Looking down on the tinners dam and the route of Leat 1.
41. Tinners Dam
The tinners dam is described as consisting of a large linear mound approx 1.5m high and 8m wide at the base. The mound in the picture fits the description, so the author assumes this to be the correct location. It can be found at SX61108 87899.
42. Tinners Dam and Leat 1 Take Off
The tinners dam was breached when Knack Mine closed in 1879.
44. OP16 a
To the west (over the hill and across the military ring road) from the Tinners’ Dam, the explorer can find Observation Post 16 (OP16), which is a fine example of a stone and earth covered concrete splinter-proof shelter. The OP is located at SX6808 88189.
45. OP16 b
OP16 also has a cast-concrete “shelter” being protected by a large mound of turf and boulders. It measures 3.2m north to south by 2.0m internally with coursed granite walls and an arched roof. A further description of the Observation Post found by the author states that: “The front (south) side is protected by a cast-concrete blast wall 1.5m high with a handrail on top that would have been used to feed a system of cable pulley that the movement of targets positioned within the flanking trenches”. Ref: Dartmoor HER
43. OP16 East Target Butt
OP16 is flanked by two target butts. The east butt is centred around SX60870 88218. The east butt is the largest of the two and comprises a disturbed bank approx 30m long running east to west. It also has a ditch on the south side.
46. OP16 West Target Butts
The west butt associated with OP16 is a smaller, single trench and measures approx 15m long. It is centred around SX60748 88167.
47. OP16 Firing Positions
About 30-40m to the north of OP16 and the east target butt, is what appears to be “dug-in” firing positions. More of these appear to extend to the north.
48. OP17
Observation Post 17 (OP 17) can be found on the ridge above Knack Mine Ford and a short distance to the north of the Wheal Virgin Stone. It is identical design to OP15 (found on Okement Hill) and is a natural stone walled shelter. It has, however, a reinforced concrete roof supported by rolled steel joists. (Ref: Dartmoor HER)

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