The site of Sortridge Consols is marked by ‘undulations’ to the east of the old Horrabridge-Tavistock road, much of which is now covered by woodland. Originally known as West Wheal Robert, it was re-opened in 1853, where Copper ore was mined but later, towards the latter part of the 19th century the mine was worked for tin. Later in the the 1920s the spoil tips were ‘picked over’ for arsenic.
In 1853, a rich deposit of copper ore had been found only 5 ft from the surface and in a matter of months £3200 worth of Copper ore was sold on an outlay of only £600. The lode which was being worked yielded (in places) 10 tons of ore per fathom and from the 20 to 40 fathom level the course of ore returned over £50,000. From this depth the values showed a serious decline, so much so that pumping was reduced and it was actually proposed to abandon the mine. The situation was saved at the last moment by an important discovery in two of the south lodes, a fact which caused an immediate reversal of policy. In 1855, a large engine house was built to house a 40 inch pumping engine from the Tavistock foundry Nicholls & Williams. Hamilton-Jenkin recorded that: a colourful ceremony took place to celebrate the start of the engine’s working life. At the entrance to the mine the road was crossed by a triumphal arch of evergreens, fronted by a large star formed of flowers from the four points of which floated the Union Jack and other flags. At the apex of the arch the word WELCOME greeted visitors. After seeing the engine take its first stroke, the company adjourned to to a dinner and settled down to listen to speeches when ‘each man was supplied with his favourite beverage and a yard of clay*, from which quickly began to ascend as clouds of smoke of the fragrant week almost rivalling in density that issuing from the adjoining steam-engine chimney’
The mine continued Copper Ore mining for another 16 years until 1871, when operations ceased. In this period, the main shaft was sunk to a depth of 152 fathoms (912 ft) from surface. Barclay and Toll recorded that with the exception of the 140 fathom level little driving (horizontally) was done below the 100-fathom level and it seems probable that the copper ore-shoot was bottomed somewhere between the 86 and the 100 fathom level.
The mine recorded outputs as follows: a) 1854-69, 7792 tons of 7.5% copper ore, b) 1883-93, 33.5 tons of black tin and c) 1924, 14 tons of mispickel (also known as arsenopyrite, which is a common mineral, iron arsenic sulfide, FeAsS, occurring in silver-white to steel-gray crystals or masses: an ore of arsenic)
*After 1850, “yard of clay”, (or churchwarden) smoking pipes up to 36” (900mm) in length first appeared. The working man, however, still preferred a short stem pipe.
Bibliography
- Mines of Devon, A K Hamilton Jenkin, 2005
- The Metalliferous Mining Region of South-West England, H G Dines, 1954
- Reports by C F Barclay and R W Toll 1924 and 1930
- Helen Harris, 1968, Industrial Archaeology of Dartmoor, page 199
- P.H.G Richardson, 1992, The Mines of Dartmoor and the Tamar Valley after 1913, page 137
Dines Description of Sortridge Consols: Most driving on the lode has been done on the levels down to the 62 fm, the ground being blocked out for 60 fms E and 140 fms W. Below the 62 fm level are the 74 fm, 86 fm, 98 fm, 110 fm and 140 fm. There are 3 lodes north of Main Lode and 5 to the south. A crosscut north from the 40 fm level passes through Tin Lode and No.1 Tin Lode. An adit near Sortridge Manor has been driven on the third lode. The south lodes are intersected by the drainage adit (50 fm level), but only the South No.1 Lode, South No.2 Lode and No. 5 Lode have been driven upon.
Hamilton Jenkin recorded: Machinery at the mine comprised a 40 inch pumping engine, 22 inch winder/crusher and a 24ft waterwheel.
