These two mines, to the north of Horrabridge, according to documentary evidence are believed to have origins at least to the early 19th Century. That said, the openworks near North Wheal Robert probably date from an earlier period. These two mines although being adjacent to Sortridge Consols are not connected to that mine underground. It is possible that East Wheal Robert may have been the earlier of the two mines with records showing it having been worked about 1825/6, when an adit was driven 90 fathoms (whose portal is likely to have been in Monkswell Wood) and a small shaft was sunk on one of the lodes, from which 106 tons of Copper ore were sold. This earlier 19th Century prospect caused some dissensions amongst the adventurers which when coupled with the fact that water could no longer be kept at bay by using a common hand-pump, caused the working to be abandoned.
Fast forward 25 years, in late 1850 a London based company was formed, from which North Wheal Robert and East Wheal Robert were amalgamated under the general title North Robert. From this information, it is suspected that North Wheal Robert may have been operational sometime between 1825 and 1850. As part of the amalgamation two new shafts, called Murchison’s (after the company secretary J.H.Murchison) and Halket’s were sunk. At that time, orders were being placed for a 40ft waterwheel and 240 fathoms of flat rods for pumping. Hamilton Jenkin records that water to drive this wheel and others was supplied by the Grimstone and Sortridge Leat, whose waters were and still are fed by the River Walkham (west of Great Mis Tor), 6 miles to the north. There are ruins of a waterwheel house in Monkswell Wood, which the author suspects was used as part of the pumping for East Wheal Robert. If this is the case, and the waterwheel house was used for the 40ft wheel, then it is possible that Hamilton Jenkin is incorrect when he stated it was driven by Grimstone and Sortridge Leat.
Both mines operated until 1868 and produced some Tin, small quantities of Lead Ore and Pyrite. However, their output consisted mainly of Copper, which returned 3,674 tons between the years of 1853 and 1857. Also recorded between 1853 and 1856 was the return of 85 tons of black tin, 2 tons of 7% Lead ore and 120 tons of Pyrite. At North Wheal Robert, the principle shaft was sunk (assumed to be Halket’s shaft) on the underlie to 80 fathoms (480ft) below surface. At East Wheal Robert, Murchison’s shaft was developed to 62 fathoms (372ft). Hamilton Jenkin records that by 1868, the mine had become poor with the Copper shoots of the main lode having been bottomed out, with the tin content being too small for them to have been worked for just that ore. In October and December 1868, materials and machinery were advertised for sale and comprised a 32in engine for pumping and stamping (North Wheal Robert) and a 40ft wheel (East Wheal Robert).
This post has been written following a visit to the mines with the Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group, where access to some private land was granted. That said, there are several public footpaths criss-crossing the mines some of the features shown here can be still be seen easily without land-owners permission.
Bibliography
- Mines of Devon; Volume 1: The Southern Area (Pages 77/8) – A.K. Hamilton Jenkin (1974)
- The Metalliferous Mining Region of South-West England – H.G. Dines (1954)











Dines description of East Wheal Robert: Murchison’s Shaft sunk south of main lode and vertical to the 62 fm level is the main shaft with a ventilation shaft to adit 310 yards west. The 20 fm, 30 fm, 42 fm, 52 fm and 62 fm levels open up the ground for 180 fms west, but eastward all drivages are short except the 30 fm (adit level). Main lode is said to be 3-4 ft wide. The Stencombe Crosscut is driven north by west from the 30 fm level and cuts No 1 Copper Lode and Tin Lode. A second crosscut driven north, cuts the same lodes which have been driven on a few fathoms. A crosscut south from the 30 fm level intersects the South Lode which has been driven on E and W. The crosscut continues S.E to No. 2 Lode, which has been driven eastwards. A further crosscut south, passes through No. 3 Lode which has an 80 fm drive E. A crosscut south from the 52 fm level intersects South Lode, which has been driven on E. The same crosscut misses No. 2 Lode but does interesect No. 3 Lode.






Dines description of North Wheal Robert: The chief shaft is Trial shaft on Main Lode and is sunk to the 80 fm level. The 20 fm level is only driven 20 fms both E and W of the shaft. The 30 fm (adit), 42 fm, 52 fm, 62 fm and 80 fm levels all extend 80 fms W to the boundary. The E drives are short except for the 30 fm and 62 fm which connect with East Wheal Robert. Tin Lode is intersected by a crosscut driven north from the 30 fm level. The main drives on this lode are on the 42 fm and 62 fm level. South Lode has been encountered in a crosscut south from the 42 fm level. From this lode there are crosscuts south to meet No. 2 Lode. This lode has also been picked up from a crosscut south from the 62 fm level.