Tom:
Thanks for that interesting bit of information. The great lengths of the
leats, flat rods, etc. that were used to work those mines and mills never
fails to amaze. If we tried to carry water along a 12-mile leat here in
Maine, I think much of it would sink into the ground long before reaching
its destination! Did they line them with clay or other low-permeability
material?
Woody Thompson
Maine Geological Survey
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tom
Greeves
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 8:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mining Activity - West Devon - Whiddon Down
Bradford tinwork (now flooded as Bradford Pool) in Drewsteignton parish, on
private ground, was historically one of the richest tinworks of NE Dartmoor,
and is one of the wonders of the SW tin industry. The huge excavation is
largely the product of surface working, but an adit and at least one shaft
are mentioned. In the 16th century it seems that the tinners constructed a
12-mile long leat from Dartmoor to bring water to the mine - this was the
subject of a legal dispute c. 1700 which has been written up by Lynnette
Costello, a lawyer: 'The Bradford Pool Case' in Transactions of the
Devonshire Association, Vol. 113 (1981) , 59-77.
Yes, 1559 is the earliest specific known reference to it, but there are
numerous other references - 1564, 1573, 1608, 1689, c. 1700, 1744, 1777,
1789, 1845 etc. The last known working was c. 1845 when a trial shaft was
sunk. The tinwork had its own smelting house/blowing mill, and is
interesting in that it was Cornishmen who were working it at the end of the
17th century.
Tom Greeves.
PS the document I've recently transcribed (dating to 1608) is actually in
English, but it might as well be in Latin given the difficulty of reading
some of the detail!
----- Original Message -----
From: "SUBSCRIBE mining-history Lee Lamble" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 1:00 PM
Subject: Mining Activity - West Devon - Whiddon Down
> Can anyone provide any information about a mine (or mines) at an area now
> known as Bradford Pool in Devon.
>
> The pool bit refers I think to what was mine workings now flooded. I get
> the
> impression from one of the local inhabitants that there might originally
> have been surface works only (something akin to a tin quarry?) followed
> later by the sinking of a shaft or shafts and the driving of an adit.
>
> The 'pool' is centered on SX 70000 91000.
>
> There are a couple of small disused 'quarries' marked nearby on the OS map
> but nothing much else to indicate mining activity.
>
> I don't have an 'old' map to see what the area looked like in the 'old
> days'
> but no doubt some one on the list will - perhaps you could have a look and
> tell me what you see.
>
> Regards
>
> Lee
>
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