Leftlake Clay Works

Overview

A small china clay pit on southern Dartmoor, worked from about 1850 to 1858 and again from 1922, when its clay was sent down the Redlake pipeline to Cantrell; the flooded pit remains.

History

Leftlake china clay works lay on the open moor of southern Dartmoor, by the Left Lake stream on the line later taken by the Redlake Tramway. It first opened in about 1850 and closed in 1858, because carting clay across the moor to Harford was too difficult. The Blackwood Path runs through the workings and probably carried its horse-drawn wagons towards Wrangaton.

The pit was reopened in 1922 by the owner of the Redlake works. Its clay was fed into the Redlake pipeline, which carried clay by gravity to Cantrell, near Bittaford, but because it was poorer than Redlake clay it was probably sent down at a different time. A winding engine in a timber-framed house on a concrete base drew wagons up an incline over the spoil tip, and the pipeline appears to be built into a bridge of about 1911 beside the works. The second period of working ended in 1933 by one account; another thinks Leftlake had probably closed before Redlake stopped in 1932.

Geology

China clay, of poorer quality than the Redlake clay.

Workings

An open clay pit with a spoil tip and an incline worked by a winding engine; the clay went by pipeline to Cantrell.

Closure

Closed in 1858 and again by 1933.

What remains

The pit is flooded; the spoil tip, engine-house foundations and the pipeline bridge remain.

Spoil tip, engine-house base, a pipeline inspection point and the bridge.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Related mines

• Redlake China Clay Works — Leftlake clay went down the Redlake pipeline to Cantrell from 1922.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• Leftlake was probably already closed when work at Redlake ceased in 1932. (disputed) ²

Recorded claims

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

• Leftlake clay workings were active from 1850 to 1858 and from 1922 to 1933. ¹
• The works opened in about 1850 and closed in 1858 because cartage across the moor to Harford was difficult; they were reopened in 1922 by the then owner of the Redlake works. ²
• Leftlake was probably already closed when work at Redlake ceased in 1932. (disputed) ²
• From the 1920s Leftlake clay entered the Red Lake pipeline; being inferior, it was probably sent to Cantrell at a different time from the Red Lake clay. ¹
• A winding engine drew wagons up an incline over the spoil tip into the pit; its house was timber-framed on a concrete base. ¹

Sources

1. (secondary) Leftlake clay works — Dartmoor Explorations
2. (secondary) Dartmoor CAM walk, 28 April 2011: Red Lake — Dartmoor CAM

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