Bere Alston Silver-Lead Mines

Overview

The royal silver mines around Bere Alston and Bere Ferrers, on the west bank of the Tamar, were an industrial-scale medieval operation unmatched anywhere else in England — and not equalled in continental Europe until at least the 17th century.

History

Silver mining at Bere Ferrers began in 1292 under the direct management of Crown officers, continuing under royal control until 1349, after which the mines were operated by Crown lessees. The scale of the operation was unprecedented for its time: over 300 men were employed on wages and piecework, many pressed into service and moved to Devon from other English mining fields such as Derbyshire and the Lake District. In 1296–97 alone, fifteen per cent of all the silver reaching the London mint came from Bere Ferrers, silver that helped fund Edward I's wars. The mines' most remarkable surviving engineering achievement is a leat built in the 15th century, running some 16 kilometres from west of Tavistock, near Millhill, into the mines south-west of Bere Alston, including rock-cut tunnels and cuttings on the western side of the Tavy to power pumping equipment. The establishment of the borough of Bere Alston followed directly from the mines, with a market operating from 1295 to supply the growing workforce. The mines finally closed in the 16th century.

Workings

The 15th-century Lumburn leat carried water some 16 kilometres to power pumping equipment at the mines, including rock-cut tunnels and cuttings on the western side of the River Tavy.

What remains

Medieval mine earthworks survive amongst the near-continuous linear earthworks running from Lockridge Hill south to Cleave Wood, though later 18th- and 19th-century mining debris overlies and partly obscures the medieval workings in places.

Abandoned workings can be dangerous — unstable ground, uncapped shafts, flooding and bad air are common even where a site looks safe from the surface. This entry describes history and general location only; it is not an access guide.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• In 1296–97 alone, fifteen per cent of all the silver reaching the London mint came from Bere Ferrers. ¹
• Over 300 men were employed on wages and piecework at Bere Ferrers, many pressed into service and moved to Devon from other English mining fields such as Derbyshire and the Lake District — a scale of operation not matched in continental Europe until at least the 17th century. ¹
• A 15th-century leat carried water some 16 kilometres from west of Tavistock into the mines south-west of Bere Alston, including rock-cut tunnels and cuttings on the western side of the River Tavy. ¹

Images

Sources

1. (primary) Medieval silver mining, Bere Ferrers — University of Exeter

Record created: 20 August 2026 · Last researched: 20 August 2026