Dear List,
Does anyone know about the use of the term 'ribs' or 'ribbs' in connection
with medieval to post-medieval mining?
A lodeback working in the Tamar Valley is called 'Luscombe Ribbs' in a list
of 1778, while in Walkhampton parish
on Dartmoor, there was a tinwork called 'Newlacombe Ribbs' in 1640.
I thought it might describe situations where several lodes or stringers run
closely parallel, giving the impression of
(bone) ribs, but of course I may be barking up the wrong tree.
Any ideas?
Robert Waterhouse
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