Dartmoor Explorations

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

West Vitifer Mine / New Vitifer Consols

This mine is located in a delightful little hidden gem of a valley just to the east of Hurston Ridge and the Two Moors Way. The water course through the valley has been variously named (infant) River Bovey and Hurston Water but is recorded as ‘North Walla Brook’ by Ordnance Survey . The valley is generally known as ‘Boveycombe’ so it seems the name ‘Bovey’ should be the name to use perhaps. However, for the purposes of this post, the name North Walla Brook has been used as this is the most commonly referenced in historical mining books and papers. The mine here is named in Jeremy Butlers Atlas of Antiquities Volume 2 (North) and in Hamilton Jenkin’s Devon Mines as West Vitifer and by Dr Phil Newman in The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor (English Heritage) as New Vitifer Consols

The valley shows lots of evidence of the ‘old men’ and their openworks and elluvial streamworks, which the 19th century miners attempted to exploit further and is similar to mining remains (although not nearly as extensive), which are found on the south side of the B3212 in Redwater Valley, namely Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine. The first lease for the ‘modern’ mine was obtained in 1850, when an adit close to the North Walla Brook was started to connect with a proposed Engine Shaft to the south west. Remains of the adit and Engine Shaft can still be found today. Through failure to obtain the necessary capital, the project was abandoned in 1852. The mine remained dormant for 14 years until, in 1866, William Skewis who was the agent at New Birch Tor and Vitifer Consols, sunk trial pits and trenches in setts known as Waterhill and Kings Oven. Not long afterwards, two shafts, known as Valley Shaft and Water Hill Shaft were started to the south of the mining area explored in 1850.

In December 1869, the mining here had major water problems as the horse-engine couldn’t keep pace with the required rate for pumping. It was therefore proposed to construct a leat from the North Walla Brook and erect a pumping wheel. In 1870 capital of ÂŁ12,000 was raised by a company from Bristol. Consequentially, a 60ft (18.3m) by 5ft 9in (1.75m) wheel was erected, which was used for both pumping (of the Engine Shaft) and for stamping the ore. Also at this time there were further opening up of lodes. Through the excavating of the wheelpit and the old men’s workings (on a lode known as Black Pool) samples of tin were found up to the value of ÂŁ10 per fathom. 1870 appears to have been the halcyon period for the mine and 14 men were employed. The infrastructure included several buildings on the east side of the river and three large circular buddles, the remains of which can still be seen. By 1873, the original capital had been exhausted and a further ÂŁ5,000 was raised. However, two years later in 1875, this additional capital had also been spent and the company was wound up. In spite of the recorded promise of valuable lodes here, there was no recorded production.

The mine and valley gets rather overgrown with bracken, so the author would suggest any visit to take place in the winter and spring when all the artefacts aren’t engulfed

Bibliography

  1. Dr P. Newman (2011) –The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor (English Heritage) – page 209
  2. A.K. Hamilton Jenkin (2005) – Mines of Devon – page 57
  3. A.J Passmore (1997) – Boveycombehedd, Chagford, Devon: an archaeological investigation of a Diachronic landscape
  4. Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group (2017) – The Tinworking Landscape of Dartmoor in a European Context (Dr P. Newman)- page 44
  5. J.Butler (1991) – Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Volume Two – The North, 33, Map 25 
0. Map a
Sketch map of the mine and the various key features. There is a second sketch map contained in this post covering the stamping mill and dressing floor areas. The author has surmised the locations of Water Hill shaft and Valley shaft as mentioned by Hamilton Jenkin. Certainly the shaft on the hillside next to the large openworks (possibly Water Hill shaft) can easily be identified with its adjacent whim plat and melior stone. The other shaft along the valley (possibly Valley shaft) is linked by a well defined track, which might have been a simple tramway.
0. Map b
The LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) plot for the area highlights quite significantly the openworks and shafts
0. West Vitifer in Summer
The valley with evidence of a lot of early tin steam works. This view was taken in July when the bracken was high. Any visit to the mine is recommended in the winter and spring months to appreciate all the features
1. Shallow Openworks
High up on the west flank of the valley shallow openworks dug by the ‘old men’ can be found
2. Openworks and Trial Pits
In Boveycombe valley, openworks and trial pits
3. Earthworks
In Boveycombe valley. These openworks and trial pits can be found towards the south end of the area covered by the sketch map and LiDAR plot shown earlier in this post
4. Possible Shaft at end of Track
Ponies at shaft which may be ‘Valley Shaft’ (ref: Hamilton Jenkin). This shaft is located at the south end of a track (or tramway) which is shown on LiDAR and late 19th century maps
5. Possible Shaft at Track end
Valley Shaft is located at SX67726 82504
6a. Track
Behind the pony, the track (or tramway) can be seen, which extends down to the Dressing Floor and Stamping Mill. Valley shaft is on the far left of the picture
6b. Track
The track (tramway) from on top of the upthrust adjacent to Valley shaft
7a. Adit Run off and Finger Dumps
From Valley shaft to the north west there is a boggy area next to two earth ‘Finger Dumps’. This is evidence of an adit run off.
7b. Adit
The Adit at SX67620 82588. The evidence of the finger dumps suggest that much ore would have been dug out here. The author does not believe the adit is connected to a shaft. A small amount of tin but mostly iron was found here around 2005
7c. Adit runoff
The adit runoff
8. Views from Finger Dump
One of two finger dumps with Valley shaft, the openworks and trial pits beyond
8a. Finger Dumps
The two Finger Dumps near the Adit
8b. Finger Dumps
The two Finger Dumps are located at SX67644 82600
9a. SW NE Deep Openworks
To the north west (uphill) from the Adit and Finger Dumps more evidence of the old men’s openworks can be found. The picture shows an openwork which runs approx. south west to north east
9b. SW NE Deep Openworks
Looking along the south west to north east openwork, close to its junction of the north to south openwork
10a. North South old men Openworks
The largest and deepest to the old mens openworks runs approx north to south initially before changing course to north west to south east, presumably because the lode changed course
10b. North South old men Openworks
Looking down the lode
11. Possible Shaft
In the Devon Historic Environment Record (HER) reference Passmore , three shafts are plotted; the Engine Shaft, the shaft the author has annotated at Water Hill shaft (with the whim plat) and a third shaft approx at the location shown in the picture. It is possible that there once was a shaft here but there is very little earth upthrust. Interestingly, the HER does not mention the track (tramway) or what might have been Valley shaft
12a. Shaft with whim plat
This obvious shaft the author believes may be Water Hill shaft (ref: Hamilton Jenkin).
12b. Shaft with whim plat
Water Hill shaft is located at SX67776 82676
12c. Shaft with whim plat
Water Hill shaft with its adjacent whim is totally engulfed in bracken in the summer months (the shaft is the dark area in foreground).
13a. Whim Plat
Adjacent to Water Hill shaft is a rather splendid Whim Plat with a Melior Stone still extant
13b. Whim Plat in Summer
The Whim Plat is almost totally engulfed with bracken in the summer months
14. Melior Stone
The Melior Stone is located at SX67763 82676
15a. Bottom of Old Mens Openworks
Bottom of the north west to south east openworks
15b. Bottom of Old Mens Openworks
Bottom of the main north west / south east openwork overgrown in Summer.
16a. Leat
Near the bottom of the north west to south east openwork, the leat which was constructed to feed water to a 60ft Waterwheel at the Stamping Mill and Dressing Floor can be located
16b. Leat
Following the leat southwards where it appears to disappear through the elluvial streamwork.
16c. Leat
This point is where the track (tramway) extends down from the Valley shaft enroute to the Dressing Floor and Stamping Mill. The leat appear to cross over the shallow elluvial streamwork depression. It may well have been laundered here
17. Bottom of Track
Crossing the elluvial streamwork and looking south the shallow ‘V’ shape of the track (tramway) becomes evident. The other end, as previously mentioned is Valley shaft
18a. Follow the Leat
This picture shows the leat on either side of the elluvial streamwork
18b. Slow Worm
Slow worm in the dry leat
19a. Follow the Leat
The leat heading towards its take off point with the North Walla Brook. The height of the sides of the leat here are at least 1m and it would appear that a lot of rock had to be removed in its construction
19b. Follow the Leat
The leat contouring around a slope
19c. Follow the Leat
This boggy area and the stones from the streamworks by the North Walla Brook is where the leat becomes a little harder to discern. There is a possibility that the leat’s course could have gone either side of the stony mound
19d. Follow the Leat
Line of reeds near North Walla Brook, which could indicate where the leat course
20. North Walla Brook
Possible leat take off point just to the east of the mound of stones. This point is at SX67855 82467
21. Possible Leat Takeoff Point
The second possible leat take off point to the south of the mound of stones
22. Building 1
On the opposite bank (east) to the Dressing Floor and Stamping Mill are several buildings or structures of unknown origin. The structure in the picture is located at SX67948 82701
23a. Building 2
This structure was marked on late 19th century OS maps. Passmore mentions (from various sources) of there being a ‘Mining House’, a smithy and other buildings here
23b. Building 2
This small building measures 8.7 metres by 6.3 metres and contains two rooms
23c. Building 2
This building is located at SX67953 82714
23d. Building 2
The alignment of the building is approx north south and there appears to have been two entrances and a cross passage dividing the two rooms
24a. Ford
In the Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group (DTRG) publication from 2017 – The Tinworking Landscape of Dartmoor in a European Context (Dr P. Newman) – page 44, there is shown on the plan a possible bridge abutment at the location shown in the picture, which is where a track crosses the brook
24b. Ford
At the location of the bridge abutment, there only appears to be a ford
25a. Dressing Floor Map
This simple sketch map of the Dressing Floor and Stamping Mill is based on a more comprehensive plan produced in the aforementioned DTRG publication. Any visit to the area should ideally avoid the summer months when the bracken is high as the three buddles and the wheelpit in particular are difficult to discern
25b Dressing Floor
This is the general view of the Dressing Floor and Stamping Mill from the west. The mine buildings are located across the brook near the line of trees
25c Dressing Floor
The Dressing Floor and Stamping Mill remains
26a. Leat
To the south of the Stamping Mill, the line of the leat can be picked up
26b. Leat
The leat passing through some small gorse bushes
27. Path to Dressing Floor
To the west of Engine Shaft, there appears to be a sloping track leading down to the Stamping Mill and the west side of the Dressing Floor. At first glance the author thought this was the course of the leat, but with the watewheel being 60ft, this course wouldn’t have been suitable, especially if the wheel was overshot
28. Launder Support
Approaching the Engine Shaft from the south, where the last positive known location of the leat was seen, this pile of stones can be found. The stones are located at SX67847 82715. Passmore describes the water from the leat being fed via an aquaduct to the wheel. The author’s interpretation of these stones is that they were part of the foundations for a launder support as they seem too far away from the shaft to have simply been from ore extraction. If a launder came through this route, it could have passed close to or even over the Engine Shaft
29. Engine Shaft
The Engine Shaft is located at SX67850 82720
30. Tipping Platform
This mound is described by Butler in his Atlas of Antiquities, Volume 3 as a launder bank. However, in the publication by Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group, The Tinworking Landscape of Dartmoor in a European Context (Dr P. Newman) there is a plan on page 44, which suggests its purpose was a tipping platform. This mound is located at SX67860 82727
31a. Tipping Platform and Wheelpit
The Wheelpit, Stamping Mill and Tipping Platform (mound)
31b. Tipping Platform and Wheelpit
Another view of the Wheelpit, Stamping Mill and Tipping Platform (mound)
32. Wheelpit in Summer a
This view is from above the wheelpit (where the stamps would have been) during the summer, indicating how overgrown the area can get
32. Wheelpit in Summer b
Outline of the wheelpit in the summer at SX67879 82730
32a. Wheelpit
Wall remains at the wheelpit. It was filled in during 1877 (ref: Passmore)
32b. Wheelpit
End on view of the Wheelpit looking south
32c. Wheelpit
The Stamping area adjacent to the Wheelpit
33a. Stamping Mill
The Stamping area is located at SX67870 82741
33b. Stamping Mill
There is little which can be seen of the stamping floor, except one obvious earthfast rock
34a. Underground Tailrace
At the northern end of the Wheelpit, there would have been an Underground Tailrace. It appears that this would have been punctuated by at least three hollows. To the left (north west) of the line of hollows is a fourth hollow (stone lined), which has been interpreted at a second wheelpit, which the author assumes was used to drive the brushes for the three circular Buddles on the Dressing Floor
34b. Underground Tailrace
The two wheelpits and the line of hollows (Underground Tailrace).
35. Small Wheelpit
The smaller wheelpit (stone lined) is located at SX67899 82750
36a. Buddle A
The Dressing Floor contains three Buddles with central mounds which survive complete with drains. These features are still shown on the latest OS map. The picture is Buddle A (as annotated on the sketch map in this post)
36b. Buddle A
Buddle A is located at SX67892 82747
36c. Buddle A
Buddle A, looking across the Dressing Floor
36d. Buddle A
Another view of Buddle A – note the subterranean drain where the small rocks are located on the side of the Buddle
37. Buddle B in Summer
There is a wall (on right), partly encloses the three buddles. Buddle B is circled under its cloak of bracken in summer. All the buddles are around 5m in diameter.
37a. Buddle B
Buddle B without the bracken. It is located at SX67886 82755
37b. Buddle B
Buddle B with the Dressing Floor wall, which is still in remarkable condition
38a. Buddle C
Buddle C
38b. Buddle C
Buddle C is located at SX67892 82765
39a. Dressing Floor Walling
General view of the Dressing Floor
39b. Dressing Floor Walling
Dressing Floor wall with stamping area in top left corner of this picture
40a. Buddle Drain
Buddle drain
40b. Buddle Drain
More Buddle drains
40c. Buddle Drain
Another Buddle drain
40d. Buddle Drain
Close up of a Buddle drain
40e. Buddle Drain
All three Buddles combine and waste left via a semi-subterranean drain leading back to North Walla Brook.
41. Dressing Floor
The three Buddles and Dressing Floor wall
42. Dressing Floor Walling
At the north west end of the Dressing Floor wall there is a another wall structure perpendicular to it. Its function is unknown
43. Pit next to Buddle C
This pit / hollow is adjacent to Buddle C. It is one of four other pits in the vicinity of the Buddles and was probably used as part of the dressing process.
44a. Adit
Possible Adit as described by Hamilton Jenkin. It might be part of the original outflow of the 60ft wheelpit
44b. Adit
Is this boggy area evidence of the Adit
45. Bovey Combe
This lovely valley is worth the diversion down from Hurston Ridge, across which, the author suspects most hikers will walk between Kings Oven / Warren House Inn and the Heath Stone / Fernworthy
45. Hurston Castle
Leaving the valley to the north a view of Hurston Castle Tor can be had. The tor was described by William Crossing as being situated on a small spur above the infant River Bovey. The tor comprises two main outcrops
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