A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
July 18, 2025
Wheal Betsy – 1830’s Dressing Floor with Stone Pavement
Probably the most well known feature of Wheal Betsy is the Cornish Beam Engine House at Job’s Shaft which was constructed to pump water from the mine. The Engine House was built in 1868 (when the mine was known as Prince Arthur Consuls) and is a very prominent feature when driving across Blackdown on the A386 just north of Mary Tavy. It would seem that the building of the Engine House was maybe a last throw of the dice, when the mine owners decided to invest capital. In 1868, there were 128 men employed but it seems that the capital investment was unsuccessful as by 1869, the mine had changed hands (and the name reverted to Wheal Betsy) and the operation descaled until its final closure in 1877. This post, however, covers an earlier period of the mine (circa 1830’s) and approx. 500 metres south of the Engine House.
Wheal Betsy can be dated to 1740 (or possibly earlier), with the principal lode running north-south and was developed for around 1km, yielding lead, zinc and silver. The mine is recorded (ref: Hamilton-Jenkin) as having ‘restarted’ in 1806 and from circa 1816 was worked in conjunction with Wheal Friendship. During the late 1820s, the price of lead fell significantly and the mine worked at a loss during this period. When the price of lead recovered by the mid 1830s, it would seem that the dressing floor covered in this post was constructed.
Bibliography
A.K. Hamilton Jenkin, (2005) – Mines of Devon, 87-9
This annotated 19th century map shows the site of a a dressing floor at Wheal Betsy, circa 1831 (ref: Pye and Westcott) where there was a crushing machine, jigging hutches and settling ponds. The area lies to the east and south of the modern road to Cholwell stables and immediately west of Cholwell Brook. Between the buildings (shown in grey and pink) and the settlings ponds (shown in blue) is an interesting feature which survives which is a well constructed ‘Stone Pavement’. The area is surrounded on both sides of the brook by old shafts and spoil tipsOn the edge of the dressing floor next to a spoil tip and Cholwell Brook (looking downstream). Between 1821 and 1832 the mine produced silver and lead to the value of £102,661. In 2025 prices this is over £12 millionOn the edge of the dressing floor next to a spoil tip and Cholwell Brook (looking upstream). The 1868 iconic Engine House is seen near the horizon. There is a lovely waterfall and small pool hereThe ‘Stone Pavement’ at the dressing floor is located at SX50826 80959. One assumes this was constructed to allow foot and wheels (carts) traffic through the area preventing erosion This area is where the settling pits are marked on the 19th century annotated map. Note the construction (on right) which looks like the foundation of a rather wide wall. It is unclear how this construction (at SX50932 80950) was usedTo the west of the ‘Stone Pavement’ where the buildings would have been several wooden posts can be found, which perhaps suggests the buildings here were of wooden construction. Note the compacted ground. Another wooden post to the west of the ‘Stone Pavement’Overlooking the location of (but out of view) the 1830’s dressing floor. Note the road across the valley which leads to Cholwell Stables. There is a incline leading up to this point from the bridge which crosses Cholwell Brook. The incline is known as Maunder’s Brake
