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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. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > We want to hear all your funny, exciting and crazy Hotmail stories. > > Tell us now > > http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/ _________________________________________________________________ Do you have a story that started on Hotmail? Tell us now http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/