East Birch Tor Mine

Overview

A tin mine in the West Webburn valley below Challacombe Hill on Dartmoor, revived by Captain Paull in 1836 and worked by a Bristol company as Devon Great Tin Croft in the 1850s, with flat-rods three-quarters of a mile long.

History

East Birch Tor Mine's openworks and streamworks run from the eastern flanks of Challacombe Hill along the West Webburn past Headland Warren Farm to its junction with the Redwater Brook. The western limit of the sett, in Chaw Gully, is marked by a boundary stone inscribed 'East Birch Tor', thought to have been set up in the mid-19th century. The tinners' workings here date from the medieval period and were in use until the 18th century. The 19th-century revival was probably started by 1836 by Captain Paull, who had made his fortune at Birch Tor and Vitifer, and who that year was driving a long cross-cut adit to drain the east-west lodes; there may have been work in 1826 as well. About 13 shafts, up to 24 fathoms deep, were sunk on the valley floor and lower slopes, and adits were driven into the hillside.

In 1847 the mine had three waterwheels, one of 30 feet driving 370 fathoms of flat-rods to the engine shaft. In 1853 East Birch Tor was bought and set to work at a royalty of one thirty-second to the Earl of Devon, and by 1856 it was being worked by a Bristol company of 2,500 shares as the Devon Great Tin Croft, consolidated with the East Birch Tor mine, in North Bovey parish. Its three lodes carried spar, tin ore and micaceous iron; Etheridge's shaft was 24 fathoms deep and Dix's 23, pumping was by a waterwheel three-quarters of a mile away connected by iron rods, ore was raised by horse-whim, and water-powered stamps crushed it. Only about 55 tons of black tin were produced between 1848 and 1864, its busiest years, and the sett was abandoned by 1867, though at least three revivals were hoped for up to 1910. For a time Headland Warren Farm served the miners as an ale house called the Birch Tor Inn. Wheelpits, shafts, a stamping mill site and flat-rod channels with small bridges survive.

Geology

Three east-west lodes in granite carrying spar, tin ore and micaceous iron.

Workings

Medieval openworks and streamworks; about 13 shafts including Etheridge's, Dix's, West Engine and Penrose shafts; adits; waterwheels driving flat-rods; water-powered stamps.

Closure

Abandoned by 1867; revivals were proposed up to 1910.

What remains

Earthworks, gullies and ruins on open moorland and farmland.

Wheelpits, shafts with a balance box, a stamping mill and dressing floor, flat-rod channels with bridges, and the East Birch Tor boundary stone.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Vitifer Mine (Birch Tor and Vitifer) — Neighbouring sett to the west; Captain Paull worked both.

Recorded claims

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

• The 19th-century revival of East Birch Tor was probably started by 1836 by Captain Paull, who had made his fortune at Birch Tor and Vitifer. ¹
• In 1847 a 30-foot waterwheel drove 370 fathoms of flat-rods to pump the engine shaft, which was 24 fathoms deep. ¹
• The East Birch Tor Mine was bought and commenced working in 1853, at a royalty of 1/32nd to the Earl of Devon. ²
• In 1856 a Bristol company of 2,500 shares worked it as the Devon Great Tin Croft consolidated with East Birch Tor; Etheridge's shaft was 24 fathoms deep. ^2,1
• Production was only about 55 tons of black tin between 1848 and 1864. ¹
• The sett was abandoned by 1867, with at least three hoped-for revivals up to 1910. ¹
• An 'East Birch Tor' boundary stone in Chaw Gully marks the western limit of the sett. ¹

Sources

1. (secondary) East Birch Tor Mine — Dartmoor Explorations
2. (secondary) 1856 Mines in Devon and Cornwall — Grace's Guide

Record created: 18 October 2026 · Last researched: 18 October 2026