A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
March 30, 2025
Ringmoor Down Mine / Tin Sett
On the Devon Historic Environment Record (Heritage Gateway) there is an entry which records the following: “Approximately 3 hectares of tinworking remains on the steep hillside immediately south of the junction of the Sheepstor and Eylesbarrow roads. A number of large shafts are interspersed with smaller tin pits in lines running roughly east-west. A small mine complex containing a launder, wheelpit and dressing floor lie at the foot of the slope adjacent to the present car park”. It is possible that the majority of visitors passing this spot enroute to or from Sheepstor Village, Ringmoor Down or Burcombe Ford (aka Gutter Tor Car Park) would not be aware of the tin mining at this location. Indeed, it is also possible that a dry leat channel(s) which crosses the Ditsworthy Warren track between Gutter Mire (Sheepstor Brook) and which leads to the aforementioned 3 hectares of tinworking may also go un-noticed. There are two leat channels (at various points) which were thought might have been used as domestic water supplies but also to serve the small mine complex.
All these features appear to have been part of a greater complex known as Ringmoor Down Mine or Ringmoor Down Tin Sett. A reference to Ringmoor Down appears in The Mines of Dartmoor and the Tamar Valley after 1913 by P.H.G Richardson, (1992), under the section Kit Tin Mine, Sheepstor. Richardson records: “Lysons, writing in 1822 listed Ringmoor Down Mine as having last worked in 1809 and I was told by Mr R. Hansford Worth that many years ago in was re-opened as Kit Tin Mine”. The author has been told that it is unlikely that Ringmoor Down Mine and Kit Tin Mine were ever the same entity, with the evidence coming from a map dated 1823 showing the extent of the Ringmoor Down Tin Sett, which doesn’t encompass the location of Kit Tin Mine. That said, there is no reason to doubt the Richardson entry regarding the closure date of the mine of 1809, which appears to tie-in nicely with the dating of the Tinners’ Mill as being typical of early 19th century.
The 1823 limits of the Ringmoor Down Tin Sett which described the bounds were: “Abutting North on Collytown or Nattor Hedges, North East and East on North and South Goater Brooks and South Ellisborough, and South and West on part of Ringmoor Down”. Note, the little streamlet which flows southwards from the Ditsworthy Track at south end of Gutter Mire, which today is marked on the OS map as Meavy Pool, was formerly called South Goater Brook. Sheepstor Brook, flowing from Gutter Mire northwards, was formerly known as North Goater Brook. Using the 1823 map, this post explores the north and eastern extents of the sett, with some interesting finds, which include: A Tinners’ (Stamping) mill, a Tinners’ hut, lots of shafts, leat channels, tin workings, a bound stone plus several pillow mounds and a vermin trap.
Bibliography
Richardson, P. H. G., 1992, The Mines of Dartmoor and the Tamar Valley after 1913, pages 89-93
Mike Brown – Dartmoor Field Guide – Volume 8 – Burrator Reservoir Area – Ringmoor Down
Fletcher, M. + Newman, P. + Probert, S., 1999, Drizzlecombe, Eylesbarrow, Ditsworthy and Hartor areas in the Plym Valley, West Devon (Report – Survey). SDV346268.
Butler, J., 1994, Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three – The South-West, 118, Map 49, Figure 49.6
This sketch map shows the locations of most of the features covered in this post, which form the northern section of the Ringmoor Down Mine (or Ringmoor Down Tin Sett). The 1823 limits of the Ringmoor Down Tin Sett where the bounds are described: “Abutting North on Collytown or Nattor Hedges, North East and East on North and South Goater Brooks and South Ellisborough, and South and West on part of Ringmoor Down”. On the south east corner of the sett is a boundstone, which may be related to the operation. Note the tin lodes (dashed lines) criss-crossing the map in both a east – west direction and a south east – north west directionTin workings along South Goater Brook leading to Meavy Pool. These are part of the approximate 17 hectares of Medieval or later streamworks flanking South Goater Brook and North Goater Brook (Sheepstor Brook) either side of the Ditsworthy Warren track. The huge openwork shown in the picture is up to 10 metres deep with a number of pits and shafts near its southern end.At the southern tip of the tin streamworks, in Meavy Pool is this boundstone. It is in a very marshy area and quite difficult to get to. The picture is courtesy of Mark Fenlon.The boundstone appears to be located at several boundaries, namely; Ringmoor Down Tin Sett (1823 Map), Ditsworthy Warren and on the Sheepstor / Shaugh Prior Parish boundary. The author conjectures that on the balance of probabilities, the boundstone was erected to mark the south east extremity of the Ringmoor Down Tin Sett and is not a warren or parish boundary marker. This boundstone does not appear on any map the author has seen and nor does it get a mention on the Devon Historic Environment Record. The boundstone tapers and is around 55cm tall by 35cm by 25cm (with the latter two measurements taken at the base)A contextual picture of the location of the boundstone, next to a wire fence in a very marshy area. The River Plym can just be seen in the picture The boundstone is located at SX57932 66080To the west of the boundstone in the direction of the boundary of the 1823 tin sett, is this wide drystone wall, which looks like a deer wall (like a ‘ha-ha’), with a vertical face on one side Looking back down the wall line towards the location of the boundstone. The brooding presence of Hen Tor can be seen in the distance.Relocating back to Gutter Mire. Adjacent to this obvious large mound the course of the leat channel which leads to the Tinners’ Mill near the Sheepstor / Gutter Tor Car park road junction can be picked up and is indicated by the wet area in the photographThe side of the very large mound with Gutter Tor beyond. Surprisingly there is no obvious pit associated with this mound. The mound is located at SX58066 66980The start of the (Tinners’ Mill) leat as it exits Gutter Mire – note the line of reeds where the leat is approaching to camera locationThis is probably the exact leat take off from Gutter Mire. The course of the leat at the western edge of Gutter Mire. Note the depth of the channel here.The continuing course of the leat as it weaves its way through the medieval tinworks Not far from the leat, to the east is a Vermin Trap near to Sheepstor Brook (North Goater Brook). These traps were used to catch stoats and weasels (the main predators of rabbits) while the warren (Ditsworthy) was in use as a business. Probable date of use was the 18th CenturyThe 2-hole cover stone of the Vermin Trap at SX58087 66999Openworks below and to the north of the leat in the direction of Burcombe FordThe course of the leat shortly after exiting the tinworks and Gutter Mire, the depth starting to shallow as it crosses Burcombe PlainWhilst following the leat, these Young Royal Navy recruits were seen on Ditsworthy track below Gutter TorThe recruits were bivvying at the former Scout Hut next to the Eylesbarrow trackThere were hundreds of recruits, who came from HMS Raleigh near Torpoint, CornwallPillow Mound to the north of the leat. Located at SX57946 67168. This is one of five, possibly six which lie either side of the leat channel. One question regarding the presence of these Pillow Mounds is when were they constructed in relation to the construction of the leat? The leat appears to have a course which precisely bisects the mounds as if it was constructed before or at least at the same time.Another Pillow Mound on the north side of the leatPillow Mound to the south of the leat at SX57980 67112The Pillow Mounds to the south of the leat are drained by a number of interlinking ditches. Some of these ditches appear to been constructed so as to supplement the water supply, whereas others appear to block the leat course. The author suspects the construction of the leat and Pillow Mounds were around the same timeDrainage channel from Pillow MoundMore drainage channels from one of the Pillow Mounds located on the south of the leatAt one point a Pillow Mound drainage ditch appears to block the course of the leat. The author suspects the ditch at one stage provided supplementary water to the leat but once the leat was no longer needed (circa 1809 when the mine possibly closed) the ditch draining was altered to run the water down to Sheepstor Brook. Perhaps, this one picture suggests that the Pillow Mounds usage both pre and post dates the leat. Thoughts ?Pillow Mound at SX57971 67120More Pillow Mound drainage supplementing the leat. Note the trees around the former Scout Hut across Sheepstor BrookJunction of the Pillow Mound drainage and the leatPillow Mound at SX57936 67137The course of this Pillow Mound drainage ditch appears to have deliberately been dug to join the leatThe leat continues past the Pillow Mounds heading westThis wall runs from near Burcombe Ford, across Burcombe Plain and Ditsworthy Track and uphill on the west side of Gutter Tor. The wall appears on the Sheepstor Tithe Map from 1842 and has been built across the line of the leat thus confirming that it had to have become redundant by that date. The leat course leads to the Tinners’ (Stamping) Mill which is suspected stopped being used in 1809 when Ringmoor Down Tin Mine closed. If the mine re-opened after 1809, the Mill would definitely not have been used beyond 1842The leat course continues to the west of the wallOne of three shafts / trial pits on Burcombe Plain, next to the leat and in all likelihood was part of the Ringmoor Down Tin Sett from the early 19th century. It is located at SX57849 67263Another shaft / trial pit – SX57844 67229. Burcombe Lodge enclosure can be seen in the background with Burcombe Ford beyondThe third shaft / trial pit. Of note is that the upthrust earth from this one on its north side has been dumped across the leat suggesting perhaps that if mining was being conducted here as part of the Ringmoor Down Tin Sett, it would have post dated the use of the Tinners’ (Stamping) Mill, located just over 1km to the west. This shaft / trial pit is located to the west of the wire fencing leading up to Gutter Tor. There is a gate which allows access. The shaft is located at SX57798 67164 and quite close to a Tinners’ Hut The remains of a Tinners’ Hut at SX57790 67134. The Tinners’ Hut is not shown on OS Maps nor recorded in the Devon Historic Environment (HER). It is, however, recorded on the Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group (DTRG) website: https://dtrg.org.uk/The DTRG describe this Tinners’ Hut as follows: “Situated slightly away from the stream and streamworks. The ruined tinners’ building, covered in moss and ferns, in front of a tinners’ pit. Foundation walls contain several blocks of granite”. There is no date suggested for this building, however, it would have been extant when the Ringmoor Down Tin Mine was operationalTo the north of the Tinners’ Hut, yet another shaft / trial pit. This one is close to the Ditsworthy Track and can be accessed via another gateWhilst in the area, for those interested in antiquities, this cairn / cist may be worth a visit. Jeremy Butler in his Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Three – The South-West, describes this thus: “Gutter Tor cairn ‘3’ at SX57676712 of 4.0 metres diameter by 0.3 metres high with a central cist retaining all four sides. One end slab leans inwards shortening the cist and the few stones of the spaced retaining circle show around the edge of the mound”. The author’s 10 digit grid reference is SX57669 67126R.N.Worth in 1940, in the 59th Report of the Barrow Committee, recorded this : “Gutter Tor. A well formed kistvaen with both sides and ends are in place but the north end leans inwards. Originally the length was probably 33 inches. A ruined retaining circle of about 11ft internal diameter; consisted of ten stones, two still standing. No coverstone. Early Bronze Age”.Near the leat once more. These giant slabs are located at SX57620 67153. They are namelessNear the giant slabs and also close to the leat is a small rectangular enclosure of 10.0 metres by 8.0 metres Butler describes it as having a “slab and rubble wall only 0.3 metres high includes an overgrown semi- circle of stones of 2.0 metres midway along one end, possibly a storehouse”. It is still shown on modern OS Maps as a black rectangleThe enclosure is located at SX57593 67154Picking up the the leat once more, close to the enclosure and large granite slabsPossible clapper over the leat at SX57598 67183The leat passing through a rocky area and reaveThe leat depth here is probably the deepest along its length, which may have been as a result of clearing the bouldersThe leat crossing a farm track which leads onto the Higher part of Ringmoor Down. Gutter Tor can be seen on the skylineThis feature not far from the leat and by the road has variously been described (and annotated on maps) as a Hut Circle, a Barrow and a Cairn. It is 20 metres in diameter and 1.0 metres in height, consists of a mound built of small stones and earth and is reported to have contained a cist, though this is not visible. R.H. Worth in 1948, described this as a barrow, which was almost destroyed in 1925 by roadmen. Dr P. Newman and S. Probert describe this as being an ‘amorphous feature’This feature is shown as a Cairn on modern mapping at SX57386 67172Without the benefit of the Devon Historic Environment and knowing that this feature lies within the Ringmoor Down Tin Sett, one might consider that it looks like it may have been mining related, possibly trial pits. It certainly doesn’t look like a classic Dartmoor Cairn.The leat, now quite shallow continuing its course towards the small mine complexThe slope of the hill now becomes quite evident as the leat continues its course westwardAt this location there appears to have been two ‘cuts’ of the leat – was one of these a surveying error ?The leat at the point where it has been diverted downhill towards the Tinners’ (Stamping) Mill complex. The leat once continued along the hillside, no doubt to serve dwellingsThis earth bank is probably where the leat was diverted to feed an overshot waterwheel. Sheeptor village can be seen from this point as can the tor of the same name. The road junction can also be seen from this pointSide of the sharply profiled leat embankment, which looks like it will be overgrown with bracken come the summer. The leat embankment is located at SX56817 67179View from on top of the Leat Embankment, with the Wheelpit below and probable Stamps area on the west sideThe dressing floor, to the west of the wheelpit, has no identifiable features, albeit the location where the stamps would have been can be ascertainedThe Wheelpit has been filled in and has been measured at 9m long (north-south) by 1.2m wide. It is located at SX56813 67185Dr Tom Greeves description: “West of (wheel) pit is the back bank or wall of a terraced dressing floor of an early 19th century tin stamping mill”.To the area to the south and south west of the mill contains many shafts and trial pits. Note the shafts in the picture and the Ringmoor Down road beyond. The road isn’t shown on the tithe map and therefore would not have been extant when the mine was in operationOne of the shafts above the mill. The large shafts are interspersed with smaller tin pits in lines running roughly east-westYet another shaft or possible trial pitThe shaft just above the quarry car park may have been drained via an adit – there is circumstantial evidence of thisShallow pit by the road. It is probable that the road builders in the middle to late 19th century here had to do some ‘filling in’. Wonderful views here looking across Sheepstor Brook valley to SheepstorAnother series of shafts close to the Ringmoor Down Road. It is interesting to note how extensive these workings are when viewed on Google EarthThe Wheel tailrace which appears to go under the roadThe tail race north of the roadThe road leading down towards Colyton Farm and Sheepstor village. The author has been told that the road was closed for repair here in recent times due to a collapse (you can see the patch in the tarmac from the picture). This collapse is thought to be from an adit which passes under the road from the shaft immediately above the mill / car park Amongst these brambles there is thought to possibly be an adit entranceSome more workings by the side of the road leading to Colyton Farm and Sheepstor villageLovely colour from this gorse bush in the workingsR. Hansford-Worth in Worth’s Dartmoor, in the section titled ‘The Blowing House’ mentions a mill at Sheepstor Brook, Colleytown (page 307). He describes a mould-stone from the mill which had been moved and had been built into a wall of a cart shed by Colleytown Farm. The above picture shows that very same mould-stone. One wonders if the mill and mould-stone might have been used in conjunction with the stamping mill at Ringmoor Down Mine?Worth records the mould-stone as being 16.25 inches by 12.5 inches to 11 inches at the top; 12.5 inches by 8.5 inches at the bottom; its original depth was 6.5 inches but at the centre it is now 7.5 inches, having been deepened by use. The mould would have held 277lbs (125.6kg) of tinWorth records the ‘groove’ or sample-mould at the top of the stone as measuring 3.5 inches by 2.25 inches by 1.25 inches deep, which would have held 2.5 lbs (1.134kg) of tinThe author’s gratitude to David Legassick for allowing access to view the mould-stone, alongside the magnificent 1959 Massey-FergusonColyon (Colleytown) Farm. There are five buildings here, all dating from pre-1842 period (Tithe), apart from the cart shed (where the mould-stone is located), which is post 1888.
