A collection of walks, discoveries, insights and pictures of exploring Dartmoor National Park
September 18, 2020
WHEAL MARY EMMA
Steve Grigg and Frank Collinson
Wheal Mary Emma was named after the mine captains wife and is located on both sides of the River Lyd a short distance downstream from the Black Rock memorial. The mine was operational from about 1849 to 1852 but the output by all accounts wasn’t that significant. It is conjectured that the mine may well have been little more than a prospect. There are no records of the output but it has been noted that there were some fine casserite specimens. Mindat.org website states: “Cassiterite can be found in a granite hosted matrix on one side of the stream (River Lyd) and in a dark metamorphosed tourmaline rich killas on the the other side”. There were various attempts to restart the mine as part of North Dartmoor Consols before it was finally abandoned around 1880. My thanks go to Mindat.org, PlymouthU3A and a plan in Dr Phil Newmans thesis in assisting in the construction of this post.
The location and layout of the mine as depicted by OS Map 1888 – 1913Wheal Mary Emma plan based on the Dr Newman original with additional items depictedThe story of the mine starts with the leat take off, which was around 2km upstream heading towards Great NoddenThe leat crosses the High Down track, which leads down to the ford and stepping stones at SX53086 85702From the track, the leat can be seen snaking its was southwards high above the River LydFollowing the leatThe Engine Shaft (now capped) is a rather non descript grassy area now. SX53042 85251View from the Engine Shaft looking towards Brat TorLooking from the slopes of Brat Tor, the Engine Shaft and leat can easily be picked outJust downhill from the Engine Shaft the openwork of the mine can be picked up.Descending the openworksLooking back up the openworksNext to the path / track is the foundations of a buildingIt is conjectured (Plymouth U3A), that this building was either a counting house or a miners dry. The path can be seen in this picture. SX53238 85189A short distance from the main building it what looks like a two roomed building. This is not referred to in any information I have found. a = SX53266 85200, b = SX53266 85203View of the 2nd building, looking back towards the path and the first buildingThere is an adit, between the two buildings. The adit is below the openwork which is in line up the hill to the Engine Shaft. SX53249 85194Next to the adit, showing the location of the openworkCrossing the path, heading in a southwards direction, two circular depressions can be found, These are Buddles, where rotating heather brushes stirred the crushed ore allowing a feed of water to carry away rock sand leaving behind the heavier casserite tin ore.Buddle 1 at SX 53229 85160.Buddle 2 at SX53233 85160The wheelpit where a 40 foot wheel would have stood. The leat can be traced at the head of the pit (the water of course came from the Lyd nearly 2km upstream)The wheelpit is at SX53227 85156Between the wheelpit and the Lyd is what is shown on the Dr Newman plan as the Dressing Floor. This is at SX53214 85140Between the two Buddles and the Lyd are two settling pits. This one is at SX53244 85160Settling Pit location in relation to the Buddle. SX53239 85158Settling Pit detail, sometimes with these things the reeds are a giveawayBridge crossing from East side to the West side of the Lyd, circa 19202020 view of the former bridge crossing. It is now a fordCombining the 1920 and 2020 pictures. The location of the bridge is approx SX53277 85181Across the Lyd (east side) there are two prominent workings and adits.Adit 2 at SX53338 85206The second of the prominent workings on the east side of the LydAdit at SX53335 85218Looking back at the west side of Wheal Mary Emma from the east side. Disappointingly, due to the gorse and bracken at the time of this visit the line of where the flat rods where located
