Dartmoor Explorations

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

March 12, 2026

Post Medieval Tin Dressing Floor near Crazywell Farm on North Bank of Newleycombe Lake

This post covers a probable 18th or 19th century Tin Dressing Floor which is located to the south east of the ruins of Classiwell (Crazywell) Farm and on the edge of an area of streamworks. The small stream which flows past the remains here enters Newleycombe Lake from the north.

The Tin Dressing Floor comprises small terraces which are defined by low revetment walls and two very shallow pits. A few metres to the south, towards Newleycombe Lake there is the outline of a possible associated building.

Bibliography

  1. The Tinworking Landscape of Dartmoor in a European Context – (2016) – Paper presented by Dr Tom Greeves – Lodges and Mills: The Field Archaeology of Tin Accommodation, Stamping and Smelting on Dartmoor at the conference (6th – 11th May 2016) at Tavistock – Mill number 114
  2. Dr. Phil Newman – (2006) – Cramber Tor Training Area Archaeological Field Investigation (Report – Survey). SDV233640.
0. Map
The location of the Dressing Floor and the Possible Building. Access is best achieved directly from the north as the ground in all other directions is a little boggy
1. LiDAR
This LiDAR plot provides a superb indication of the extent of the streamworks and openworks immediately to the north of Newleycombe Lake and south east of Classiwell (Crazywell) Farm
1a. Dressing Floor
First sighting of the Dressing Floor on a terrace below a wall line
1b. Dressing Floor
The terrace appears to have been built up from the level of the streamworks beyond
1c. Dressing Floor
The Dressing Floor as viewed north to south with Newleycombe Lake beyond the gorse line.
2a. Possible Building with Gorse
At the gorse below (south) the Dressing Floor is a possible building
2b. Possible Building with Gorse
The picture doesn’t provide justice to a faint outline of a possible building
3a. Gorse Clearance
Cutting part of the gorse away to reveal the outline of a possible building
3b. Gorse Clearance
The possible building is located at SX58254 69909
4a. Dressing Floor
Back to the Dressing Floor ‘Terrace’, looking south to north
4b. Dressing Floor
Phil Newman (2007) recorded that Dressing Floor thus: “two pits, one 2.2 by 2.0 metres and fully of silt, the other 2.7 by 1.0 by 0.3 metres deep with traces of stone lining”.
4c. Dressing Floor
The Dressing Floor is located at SX58258 69919
5a. Mound or Building
To the south of the Dressing Floor and possible building – a tinners’ mound by Newleycombe Lake. The earthwork give the impression that a structure may have been built into it but this might just be an optical illusion. Down Tor is on the horizon.
5b. Mound or Building
The mound is located at SX58238 69899
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