Lady Bertha Mine is situated in the parish of Buckland Monachorum on the east bank of the Tavy about ½ mile south of Virtuous Lady Mine and a few hundred metres north of Balstone Farm. It was a well documented mine and today still has some good field remains, which are complemented by quite a lot of historic cartographic and photographic material. The mine lies of land owned by the Maristow Estate and permission must be sought to visit.
The mine was started in 1855 when the mine adventurers appear to have speculated that the same lodes as those of found at Tavy Consols, continued east across the River Tavy. Tavy Consols had been in existence since 1845-6 and as Hocklade Mine prior to that with origins dating to 1724.
Like Tavy Consols, Lady Bertha Mine was worked principally for copper but there were also large amounts of arsenical pyrites found. The arsenic ores were taken to Tavy Consols (via a suspension bridge over the river) for calcining, with the burnt residues (known as rinkles) returned to the mine for tin stamping and processing. The mine had two periods of operation, namely between 1855 to 1868 then 1880 to 1899, with much redevelopment occurring after 1884. By the end of the first six months of operation in 1855, the mine was 15 fathoms (90 ft) deep, and had sold 86 tons of copper ore for £573. This great start to the life of the mine caused ‘a fever of excitement in the volatile mining circles of Tavistock’. By the time the mine closed in 1899 (due to the price of copper and arsenic being then low) it had reached 53 fathoms (318 ft) in depth below adit. It appears that the main lode was the only one worked on until 1890 and this was W. 14° S. – E. 14° N. (256° – 76°) and had a slight southerly underlay, averaging 4 to 6 ft. in width. In 1890, a north branch of the lode was discovered running parallel to the main lode and ore from this branch enabled the mine to ‘keep going’. The change in the lode direction produced lesser grade ores.
The mine is recorded as having shafts called Meadow, Engine, Moyle’s and Eastern with the latter being the deepest. Some observers (Barclay and Toll) have recorded ‘Moyle’s Engine shaft’ perhaps suggesting only three shafts at the mine or maybe Moyle’s became the Engine Shaft at some stage in the lifetime of the mine replacing the original Engine Shaft. In 1856, the then Engine Shaft is also recorded as being called Goss’s Engine Shaft named after the then Mine Captain. The mine was worked entirely by water-power, with the water being conveyed to the mine by a leat three miles in length from Grenofen Bridge on the River Walkham, which has a total fall to the Tavy of around 180 ft. Over the life of the mine four water wheels were employed for pumping, hoisting, crushing / stamping and wagon hauling.
The tonnage of output sold from the mine for copper ore, arsenical pyrites, crude arsenic and black tin is given in the Geological Memoir (Tavistock & Launceston) as follows: Copper Ore: 8,200 tons. Producing 390 tons of copper between 1855-94; Black Tin: 6 tons; Arsenical Pyrites: 5,300 tons; Crude & Refined Arsenic: 1,715 tons between 1881-99; Iron Pyrites 530 tons.
Bibliography
R.W. Toll & C.F. Barclay , Jan. 1919 – Report
A.K. Hamilton Jenkins: Mines of Devon Volume 1: The Southern Area
Dr P. Newman : 2011, Mining in the Tavy Valley
Dartmoor Chris : Records of newspapers and journals; Tavistock Gazette, Mining Journal, Devonport Journal, Daily News, Limited Liability Chronicles, The Times, Daily Western Mercury, Western Morning News, The Shareholders Guardian, The Morning Post
This sketch map of the site is a combination of all the main features used at the mine over the period 1855 to 1899. The bridge shown in the sketch was a footbridge and is not the one used to transfer the Arsenic Pyrites to Tavy Consols for processing – that bridge was located around 200 m by Balstone Farm. Prior to 1882-4 there were two waterwheels; a large pumping waterwheel (#4) and a crushing waterwheel (#2) used in conjunction with a crusher house. The site was redeveloped after 1884 and an additional hoisting waterwheel (#3), tin dressing floors housing six round buddles and a wagon hauling waterwheel (#1) for tailings were added. The author has indicated locations of 4 shafts from old OS mapping and from recorded descriptions
The East Shaft was situated about 150 fathoms (900 ft) east of the Engine Shaft, in a meadow. Today, there is no visible evidence on the surface, with all traces being effectively ploughed over as can be seen in the photograph. The shaft was 53 fathoms deep below adit or about 83 fathoms from surface and was connected with the Engine Shaft at the 30 and 40 fathom levels respectively. The was a large pumping waterwheel (#4) which was used to drain this shaft.
A large water-wheel situated between the Engine and Eastern shafts pumped the water from both shafts (see sketch map which shows how the shafts ‘line up’ with the two shafts). The author believes the Engine Shaft was located where the OS Maps labelled ‘Old Shaft’ and this was also Goss’s Engine Shaft. Today, like the East Shaft, there is no evidence of this remaining. The area shown in the picture is where the wheel would have been located. The wheelpit was backfilled following the abandonment of the site in 1899.
This ruin was the Smithy and is one of the most prominent remaining at the mine
Inside the Smithy
The Smithy is marked on 1880s-1890s OS maps, and looks like it was possibly one of the largest buildings on site, second only to the Mine Captains Cottage / House
The Smithy is located at SX47073 68858
Newspaper entries in the Devonport Journal from 1855. This appeared to have been a very good start to the life of this mine
Publications regarding the mine from 1856, the second year of operation. It would appear that the Engine Shaft had been known as Goss’s Engine Shaft at this time after the Mine Captain. Note in the Captain Goss report that 36 men and boys were working underground in 1856
Above the Smithy and adjacent to a rocky bluff / cliff is what looks like a shaft, but in actual fact is an adit. This adit was driven 35 fms intersecting Moyle’s Engine Shaft at 25 fms from the portal.
Moyle’s Engine Shaft was situated ‘just east of the ruined house on the top of the cliff’ (Barclay and Toll)
Barclay and Toll in their 1919 report, record the following: “The entrance to the main adit is just below the ruined house on the cliff. Where exposed above the adit portal the lode is very gossany and broken up, being about 4 ft. in width with a slight southerly underlay”. The adit entrance is located at approx. SX47080 68866
The Barclay and Toll in their 1919 report continues: “Immediately inside the entrance, the lode has been underhand stoped and a winze* (Tregoning’s) put down to the 20-fathom level. The water in this winze stands about 12 ft. below the entrance to the adit, the drainage water from the mine probably finding its way out by means of the Meadow Shaft, as a piece of very marshy ground, showing much ochre was noticed in front of the adit”. The evidence of this being at adit entrance is compelling, especially as the marshy ground referred to is still evident below this opening. *Winze is an internal shaft that is sunk downwards, connecting two levels in a mine
Inside the adit – picture courtesy of Dartmoor Chris. Please note this access here is not possible unless conducted by experienced explorers. There appears to be evidence of mining gear left behind, which seems to confirm Captain Skewes (last Mine Captain in 1899) that : “wagons and much of the gear were left in the mine when closed”
Flooding within the adit area. This may well be a view of the Winze
Close up of the flooded Winze
This picture was taken close to the adit entrance and provides a contextual view with the Smithy below. The Barclay and Toll observation that “drainage water from the mine probably found its way out by means of the Meadow Shaft, as a piece of very marshy ground, showing much ochre was noticed” possibly suggesting the location of the Meadow Shaft was between the people (Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group members) and the marshy ground annotated on the photograph. Barclay and Toll also recorded that ‘Meadow Shaft’ was only a small air shaft about 20 fathoms deep, and had been sollared over (wooden platform covered in rubble to make safe). The final piece of evidence regards Meadow Shaft is that mine records put it ’70 yds. W.S.W. of Moyle’s’, which would put is exactly as described above.
The Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group (DTRG.org.uk) conduct walks to old mines, sometimes on private land where permission is required. The picture shows members of the DTRG being shown the Cliff / Bluff next to the Smithy where there is evidence of hand picks being used against the rock, probably to determine mineral content.
A contextual view of the Smithy from the west, near the track. The cliff / bluff is to the left (just out of shot), Meadow Shaft (most likely) to the right and the adit above (amongst the trees).
To the south of the Smithy and on a small bluff are the ruins of another (unknown) building. This is shown on the sketch map in this post and is located at SX47075 68837
Newspaper entries for the mine from 1857, the third year of operation. The shares for sale (16th December @ 21s or a Guinea) would be around £150 (in 2024) thus raising the equivalent of £30,000. The shares called (one assumes dividends paid) was 2s 6d (a half crown) or 1/8 of a pound. In 2024 this would be around £17-£18. Interesting to note that Lady Bertha was described as being “the cheapest speculative mine in the kingdom”
Newspaper entries for the mine from 1858. The values of the lodes were being quoted (10th December) as between £20 and £60 per fathom (6 ft) the equivalent today of around £3,000 to just over £9,000 per fathom. It seems that there was a different Mine Captain at Lady Bertha by 1858, Captain Metherall.
Cliff Face which dominates Lady Bertha Mine. There is evidence that the rock has had hand picks striking the face
Cliff Face on the north west side
Cliff Face on the west side. The Mine Captains Cottage / House was built on top of this crag. A perfect location to overlook operations which surrounded this location
Semi-buried Archway between the Smithy and the Cliff Face
Miscellaneous bricks at the Mine
More abandoned bricks
Newspaper information about the mine from 1859 indicate that into the 5th year of operation, the mine was still showing good returns
More newspaper information about the mine from 1859, strong sales continued. It was around this time, work was being carried out at East Lady Bertha and Buller & Bertha to see if there was a continuation of the lode to the east. More information can be found here: East Lady Bertha – Dartmoor Explorations
Climbing up the slope on the east side of the Cliff, this piece of walling can be found. Note the arch at the base of the wall, which is a clue to the reason for the structure. The arch is an exit lobby for the Hoisting Wheepit / Wheelhouse, which allowed water to flow out. This water was directed to the Crusher Wheelpit.
The Hoisting Wheelpit / Wheelhouse (#3 on sketch map) was constructed after the original Pumping Waterwheel (#4) and the Crusher Waterwheel (#2) had been operational for several decades. This Waterwheel was constructed sometime after 1884
This second wheel is recorded as being ‘situated just above the engine-shaft and did the hoisting from the shaft’ (Barclay and Toll). The author believes in this instance the Engine Shaft was Moyle’s Engine Shaft. The wheel must have been ‘in line’ with the alignment of the wheel and thus been located as shown on the sketch map in this post.
There is another (unknown) building above the Hoisting Wheelpit / Wheelhouse (#2). This is located at approx. SX47121 68867
Barclay and Toll record: “The main shaft is Moyle’s Engine Shaft, situated just east of the ruined house on the top of the cliff above the river”. This description, plus the location and orientation of this Wheelpit / Wheelhouse, provides the extra evidence to positively locate the shaft as shown on the sketch map
The Hoisting Wheelpit / Wheelhouse is located at SX47119 68877 . The wheel here was 30 ft in diameter and was manufactured by Messrs James and H Pearce of Tavistock, under the superintendence of Matthew Loam, the engineer of the mine. The 30 ft wheel worked as a double-acting haulage engine
This picture was taken from the Hoisting Wheelpit / Wheelhouse looking towards the Cliff where the (Moyle’s) Engine Shaft was located. There is no evidence of the shaft today with Barclay and Toll recording 105 years ago that: “It is vertical to adit, and then underlies south, 3 or 4 ft. below adit; the shaft has been sollared over or become choked”.
Some metal detritus found adjacent to the Hoisting Wheelpit / Wheelhouse
Newspaper information from 1860, suggesting Mundic was also located here. The mine outlook still looked very favourable
Newspaper information from 1860. There is mention of two Captains (Harpur and Metherall) in the report dated 22nd September
This photograph shows the area immediately to the north east of the Hoisting Wheelpit / Wheelhouse with some rocky outcrops and walling. It is through this area that prior to the 1884 reconfiguration, water would have flowed between the Pumping Wheel (#4) and the Crushing Wheel (#2). Looking at the terrain, that water was, most likely laundered across this area. The OS map of the pre-1884 era (inset) shows three blue straight lines indicating the probable launders
Below the Hoisting Wheelpit / Wheelhouse (#3) is another Wheelpit (#2 on sketch) which provided power to the Crusher House
This Wheel operated grinders (rolls) and latterly after the dressing floor had been redeveloped after 1882, jigs and stamps
This Wheelpit (#2) is orientated perpendicular to the Hoising Wheel (#3). It is located at SX47111 68899
Adjacent to the Wheelpit is a small indent which presumably would have house part of the axle for the wheel?
Next to Wheelpit (#2) are the remains of the Crusher House, where rollers were operated to crush the ore. The Crusher House is located at SX47106 68898
Corner of the Crusher House
End of the Crusher House
Newspaper and Journal entries from 1861 through 1863. The £1000 of ore sold in 1861 (28th September entry) is equivalent to just under £150,000 in 2024 with the profit of £300 being equivalent to around £45,000.
Mining Journal extracts from 1864 relating to Lady Bertha. Interesting to note the finds of Flookan (a narrow bank of crushed rock or clayey material found along a fault zone or vein of ore) and Peach (which the author believes is a form of Tourmaline)
More Mining Journal (and Tavistock Gazette) extracts from 1864 relating to Lady Bertha. The accounts still look relatively healthy with the mine in its 10th year of operation.
This picture was taken from the west side of the Tavy looking across to Lady Bertha. The footbridge is no longer extant. The picture clearly shows the Crushing / Stamping Wheel (#3) on map. The mine looks deserted in this picture and therefore the picture is likely to date from the early 20th century
This picture of the suspension footbridge was taken from a slightly different angle and shows the (Californian) stamps that were employed at the mine. As heavy timber was used for the foundations of the stamps, it is evident that these stamps had mortar boxes and were of the Californian type, as Cornish stamps were always allowed to beat in their own foundations.
This annotated picture was taken in the 1890s and shows three of the four Waterwheels in operation. There were ten heads of Californian stamps in operation for treating the tin ore; 5 heads working by day and 10 heads by night, when the rolls (copper ore crushing) were stopped. The dressing floors included six round buddles which can be seen in the foreground. The last Mine Captain (Skewes) can be seen bottom right of the photograph. The fourth Water Wheel (#1 on sketch map) was employed to haul the tailings wagons up to the grinders by a self-acting incline tramway
This picture shows the mill at Tavy Consols and the suspension bridge which was used to transfer Arsenic Pyrites from Lady Bertha Mine. The cables for the bridge were reported to have come from an old battleship being broken up at Devonport Dockyard. Lady Bertha can be seen on the opposite bank by the bend of the river. The mill was for taking the Pyrites and burning them for arsenic, the Stanniferous rinkle being trammed back to Bertha and there stamped for and buddled for tin.
This walling is located adjacent to the Dressing Floors which is close to where the Wagon hauling Water Wheel was located
Walling by the Dressing Floor
Newspaper entries for Lady Bertha Mine dating from 1865 and 1866. Note that there was ‘dullness’ in the Mining Share Market (15th December 1865 – Tavistock Gazette). Also, an sad tragic accident in 1866 (15th March) to William Glanville who left a widow and four children – this story puts into focus the social cost and impact these mines had.
Newspaper entries (Tavistock Gazette and London Gazette) for 1866 to 1868, which make interesting reading. Firstly, in 1866 sales of copper ore still appear relatively buoyant with 136 tons being recorded in May, July and December. Secondly, within the year (October 1867) there was a petition for the winding up of the Lady Bertha Mining Company, which most probably was due to the prices of copper ore falling. Finally, in August 1868 (the year the mine closed the first time), there was an accident involving Captain James Metherell, when he was removing pitwork from the Engine Shaft – the author speculates that this was part of the mothballing of the mine
One of the six buddles, which are still extant. This Dressing Floor Area is slowly being engulfed by the woodland.
Another Buddle
Scraping back the moss off the corner of this Buddle, it looks like this artefact is still in relatively good condition
Another of the six Buddles which were used at the mine. The centre point of the six Buddles is at SX47108 68927
The Footbridge crossing to the Dressing Floor area of the mine. The photograph shows there were embankments leading to / from the Bridge on both sides of the river
Another picture from the west side of the river, showing the embankment leading to the Bridge
Remains of the embankment leading to the Suspension Bridge on the east bank of the river
As the embankment approaches the river, it is engulfed by the woodland
The Bridge abutment on the west bank
The Bridge abutment on the west bank
View of where the Footbridge was located – the end of the embankment on the east bank can be seen on the right side of the photograph
Superimposing the original bridge onto a 2024 photograph
These newspaper entries are taken from the start of the second period of operation of Lady Bertha after 12 years. The entry for 6th February 1880 indicates £15,000 of capital had been raised with the newly registered company. The entry for 23rd June 1882 suggests the company was known as Lady Bertha United Copper and Tin Mining Company Limited – why this company is mentioned in terms of ‘winding up’ is not clear to the author. It may have been the pre-cursor to the mine becoming Bertha Consols
Tavistock Gazette entries for 1886 and 1888. It would seem that by 1888, the mine was known as Bertha Consols. The Captain Gregory was the Mine Captain, whose report appeared very positive
Newspaper entries from 1889 to 1894. In 1893, there was mention of another ‘winding up’. That said, it is known the mine worked through to 1899. Of interest is the entry in 1894, which indicates a bridge at Lady Bertha was washed away after nearly 12 hours of rainfall. It is not clear whether this was the footbridge or the larger bridge to Tavy Consols
Leaving the mine via the footpath to the south west, this pond can be seen. Its use is unknown but is shown on OS Maps dating from the 1870s. The pond appears to be possibly a settling pond which is fed by the larger one upstream, close to where the latter Dressing Floor was located. This pond would have discharged in the river Tavy. It is located at SX47040 68861
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