Dear Phil, Thanks for the link to Dartmoor Archive. This bridge is marked on the 1954 map. I was hoping to find a bridging place closer to VLM to link into the cart track to Orestocks. The route from VLM to Orestocks via LBM and Hocklake seems to be uneconomical. I will take another look asap and report back if I find anything.
Best Wishes, Roger.
> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:30:09 +0000
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Virtuous Lady Mine.
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> There's also a nice piccie of this bridge in the Dartmoor Archive.
>
> http://www.dartmoorarchive.org/image/da001752
>
> Phil Newman
>
>
>
>
> Rick Stewart, Morwellham Quay Mine Manager wrote:
> > Re the bridge over the Tavy - there was a crude suspension bridge
> > between Lady Bertha & Tavy consols - not too sure of date. I believe
> > there is a photo in H.Jenkins Mines of Devon.
> >
> > Rick Stewart
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Hutchins"
> > <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 10:32 AM
> > Subject: Virtuous Lady Mine.
> >
> >
> > Dear Members,
> > I was recently given three "Tavy and Tamar"
> > magazines dated 1973. In volume iii there is an article by Vic Gardner
> > with a brief history of the mine, and an account of an exploration of
> > the mine by himself and Tavistock photographer Jim Thorington, guided
> > by the mine owner Mrs Peggy Oxenford. This is an interesting account
> > of "Daring Do" with some photos of the mine interior.
> >
> > Jim Thorington died about 10 years ago, and most
> > of his photos are with the Tavistock museum. Vic Gardner lives in Bere
> > Alson and was the owner of The Tavistock Gazette.
> >
> > If anyone wants a copy of the article and photos I
> > am happy to send them on.
> >
> > I was intrigued to find the following passage in
> > the article. "Copper was shipped from Morwellham and to get the ore to
> > the quays from the Virtuous Lady meant a big haulage job. The ore was
> > brought out of the mine in trucks(kibbles), broken by bal maidens and
> > sorted by the young girls. It was then loaded onto pack ponies by the
> > boys.
> >
> > The boys, under the age of twelve, led the ponies
> > over a wooden bridge above the fast flowing Tavy and up a narrow track
> > which wandered up the steep almost mountainous valley side to Copper
> > Ore Stocks on the Tavistock to bere Alston road. The cottage which
> > belonged to the caretaker still exists although its name has been
> > abbreviated to "Orestocks".
> >
> > The ore was transferred from the pack animals to
> > a stock pile which would be moved to the quays at Morwellham when a
> > ship was due. From Copper Ore Stocks to Morwellham it was down hill
> > all the way and the caretaker would supervise the loading of the ore
> > onto horse drawn wagons to complete the journey. At Morwellham the ore
> > was loaded into small vessels for conveyance to smelting works in
> > South Wales."
> >
> >
> >
> > This is the first written account that I have
> > found of pack animals being used for the haulage of ores locally,
> > although I suspect that it was common practice.
> >
> > Wednesday this week I went out to find the old
> > pack horse track. Although it is much interupted by more modern forest
> > tracks the old packhorse track is still visible, and leads down to the
> > river upstream from the Mine. There is a ruined house and paddock at
> > the end of this track which is marked on the maps but not named. I
> > cannot see that this ruin was part of a farm and wonder if it was more
> > to do with the mining. Could it have been the place where the pack
> > ponies were kept?
> >
> > I am also puzzled by the mention of a bridge
> > over the Tavy. Can any one tell me where this bridge was situated? I
> > know about the bridge over the Walkham at Double waters, but have
> > never heard of a bridge over the Tavy. An old map shows a ford near to
> > the mine the name of which I cannot read. Does anyone know the name of
> > this ford?
> >
> > Are there any more records of pack animals
> > being used to haul ore from the old copper mines of the Tavy, and
> > where did Vic Gardner get his information from?
> >
> > Any help with these queries would be welcome.
> > Many Thanks and Best Wishes Roger B. Hutchins.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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