Great and East Sortridge Consols

Overview

A copper mine on Plaster Down south of Whitchurch Down, one of the Sortridge mines that 'sprang up like mushrooms' in the 1850s, floated in 24,000 shares with a 12-inch pumping engine.

History

Great and East Sortridge Consols worked the ground on Plaster Down, in Whitchurch parish about three miles from Tavistock, west of the road between Riland Plantation and Warren's Cross. It was one of the Sortridge mines - Great Sortridge, Great Sortridge United, Great West Sortridge, East Sortridge and North Sortridge - that sprang up south of Whitchurch Down in the 1850s. Great Sortridge, also called Plaister Down Mine, was once part of the Sortridge Consols sett, whose main workings lay half a mile north of Horrabridge. It was first set up to look for tin, and by 1846 an adit had been driven 200 fathoms to cut a lode; three shafts found small amounts of tin, native copper and spots of yellow copper ore, and a tall chimney stood by the main shaft.

By 1854 it was named Great and East Sortridge Consols and was a copper mine, held on a 21-year lease from 1854 at one-fifteenth from Colonel Harris of Radford, within the Duke of Bedford's manor of Tavistock. In 1856 its two lodes carried copper ore, spar, prian and black oxide of copper; the engine shaft was 25 fathoms deep, the adit driven 150 fathoms west, and a 12-inch pumping engine with a drawing machine drained and worked it. The cost-book company had 24,000 shares, with Captain James Richards as manager, Arthur Down as captain, W. E. Commins of Tavistock as purser and offices in New Broad Street, London; ore went out through Morwellham. Two further shafts to 50 fathoms were planned but there is no sign they were sunk. The main shaft, a line of trial pits running east towards the East Sortridge shaft, and Higher Pennington Barn, once part of the mine, survive on the down.

Geology

Two lodes in killas running about 20° south of east, carrying copper ore, spar, prian and black copper oxide; the nearest granite is at Pew Tor.

Workings

An engine shaft 25 fathoms deep, a 150-fathom adit, a 12-inch pumping engine with drawing machine, and a line of trial pits towards East Sortridge.

Closure

Unknown.

What remains

Earthworks and a shaft on open down; Higher Pennington Barn has been repaired.

The main shaft, at least nine trial pits, flooded workings and Higher Pennington Barn.

Redevelopment

Open down and farmland.

Related mines

• North Wheal Robert — Both among the Sortridge-area copper mines north of Horrabridge floated in the 1850s.

Recorded claims

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

• The Sortridge mines south of Whitchurch Down - Great Sortridge, Great Sortridge United, Great West Sortridge, East Sortridge and North Sortridge - sprang up in the 1850s. ¹
• Great Sortridge was first set up to search for tin, and by 1846 an adit had been driven 200 fathoms. ¹
• Great and East Sortridge Consols was held under a 21-year lease from 1854 at 1/15th, granted by Colonel Harris of Radford. ^2,1
• In 1856 the engine shaft was 25 fathoms deep and the mine was worked and drained by a 12-inch pumping engine with a drawing machine. ^2,1
• The cost-book company consisted of 24,000 shares; the manager was Captain James Richards. ²
• Higher Pennington Barn, next to the main shaft, was once part of the mine. ¹

Sources

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

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