Old Ashburton

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                                                           Quarries and mines

                                                         Ashburton as a stannary town

See also Local administration, under Gathering together.

A stannary town is a town where refined tin was checked for quality, weighed, stamped and assessed for the payment of duty.    

Circa 1310* the tin-miners,(stannary men) of Devon petitioned the King for a Tuesday market and a twice-yearly fair at Chagford. They said that the late king had granted them 'many liberties' in Devon, and that they were 'assigned to live in three vills, namely Tavistock, Ashburton and Chagford.' The Chagford men complained that although they still held their courts and pleas in the town there was no market or fair where food, drink and other necessities could be purchased.

The council considered that the request should not be granted because of the damage to neighbouring markets and fairs of the Bishop of Exeter and Hugh de Courtenay.

*A note says that the dating of this petition is unsatisfactory, and may be from considerably later.

National Archives ref SC 8/42/2098 See below for more on references to records

Available to view for free from http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk - Accessed 4-1-2014

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Circa 1533 - 1538 John Wynter took Thomas Revell to court over the forgery of a grant of land and pasture called Tynwork in Ashburton, Devon.
National Archives C 1/923/73-76

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk - Accessed 7-1-2014 

Circa 1538-44 brothers Christopher and Thomas Denbowe were in dispute over a tenement in London, bequeathed to them by their father Christopher. The price of the tenement was partly determined by the sale of goods and a tinwork in Ashburton  

National Archives C 1/980/34            

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1547-48 George Wyndeate was paid 2s for riding to Exeter for 'le tynn wyghtes.'

Churchwardens' Accounts of Ashburton 1479-1580, Alison Hanham, Devon and Cornwall Record Society, printed Devonshire Press 1970, p121

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1563 A letter of attorney kept in the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office involves Richard Luscombe of Ashburton, a groom, and Richard Harell. It concerns a tinwork in Lemmenforde Combe, Ashburton stannery.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk, ref 372/3/1/4

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At one of the meetings of the Field Club, the group observed ancient tin workings at Waterleaf* Bridge.

Western Times 26 May 1922 p10 col1

* This surely must be Waterleat Bridge

'At the present time (1831) the state of mining in this county is at a low ebb. Various copper lodes have been tried since the period to which the preceding accounts relate; and though ore has been found in many, the quantity has not often been sufficient to pay for the working of them.'
The history of Devonshire, the Rev. Thomas Moore, undated, p529

Peter Coade of Kay, Cornwall, who had lived in Ashburton for about 30 years, died at Rose Cottage, Ashburton in February 1845. He had been Captain of various tin and copper mines in the district, and those who worked for him found him to be 'a kind master and a benevolent friend.' A Wesleyan and supporter of Reform, he was well respected. Mr Coade was 69.
Western Times 8 February 1845, p3 col1

The only quarrying or mining activities specifically labelled on the 1840 tithe map of Ashburton are tin mines near Owlicombe. The Rev. Thomas Moore, above, says that the Owlacombe mines were abandoned circa 1815; however, as the items below show, there was obviously activity there later on.

In 1851 steam machinery was being installed at the West Beam and Owlacombe tin mines.

There was optimism of returns from Old Brimpts Tin Mine and South Plain Wood. A shaft was still being sunk at South Plain, but some 'fine specimens' of copper had been found. 

Western Times 24 May 1851 p7 col2

The machinery included four water wheels, the largest 40 foot in diameter.
Exeter Flying Post 18 March 1852 p1 col2

A prospectus for the Arundel Copper mine (sold privately, not in my possession) stated that there were three separate mining setts, held from the freeholder John Sparke Amery, for a period of 24 years. 10,000 shares of £1 each were offered. The prospectus, date unknown, included six reports by committee members: Joseph John William Watson, William Williams, Captain James Carpenter, and Captain Michael Stephens.

A statement in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette duplicates many of the above details. The 'richness of the ores' and 'abundance of the lodes' meant that expensive machinery would not be necessary to extract the minerals.

Johnson and Matthey, 29, Hatton Garden, London, allegedly assayed a sample and found 8½% pure copper.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 10 July 1852 p2 col4

The lode at the Wheal Arundel Mine, 'on the Druid Estate' was said to be 'most promising.'
Western Times 2 October 1852 p7 col5

Western Times 30 October 1852 p7 col3 

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 5 March 1853 p4 col2 

In May of the same year Mr. Josiah Hitchens had prepared a very favourable report on the mine. Confident that it would be profitable, he encouraged the installation of a steam engine and the sinking of a substantial shaft. Having become a shareholder, Mr. Hitchens asked for the remuneration for his services to take the form of 'an interest in the dividend development'. Although there had been considerable expenditure in the mine, the company was still £3754 8s 5d in credit. The miners had been provided with a library.

London Daily News 27 May 1853, p6 cols3,4

Mine no. 39, Devon Great Huel Ellen, Copper and tin, Ashburton, purser or secretary Thos. Showell, suspended.                                                                  Mine no. 42, Devon New Copper, P., Copper, Ashburton, purser or secretary J Sparke Avery, suspended.                                                                                Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Brtain....Mineral Statistics for year 1864, Robert Hunt, HMSO, London, 1865, p245

Western Times 26 March 1914 p3 col7

See also A Vignette on Druid Mine in Devon, publ. Northern Mine Research Society, Sheffield, 1995 www.nmrs.org.uk/publications/pdf/BM55/BM55-90-93-druid.pdf - Accessed 22-2-2016
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South Plain Wood (Ashburton), copper; purser - J Nicholson; offices, 90, New Bond Street.                          The Mining Guide, publ. at the office of The Mining Journal, London, 1853, p54

There was concern in 1853 about the spiritual needs of the influx of miners to the Ashburton area, who were, said the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 'scattered on the hills like sheep which have no shepherd'. The owners of the Devon Tin Mines had built an iron-house at Dartmeet, which could accommodate 100 people for worship, but the Church was proving inflexible at organizing services by 'missionary' chaplains.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 17 December 1853 p4 col2                                                                   

There was almost full employment in the Ashburton area in 1855 - the industries quoted were the mines, the woollen industry, and the Penn Recca slate quarries*.
*In Staverton parish

1860. A meeting of miners and working men was called with the aim of improving their social and mental well-being. The Chairman asked, 'Where was the Mechanics' Institute? Where was the museum? Where was the free library?' None of these institutions existed.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 30 November 1860 p7 col3

1861  A fall of earth buried two boys, both named Cox, whilst they were working in the Ashburton United Mine. They were quickly dug out, but one died of his injuries.

Western Times 21 December 1861 p3 col3

                               'Gross swindling may be perpetrated under the form of mine speculation.'
Western Times 13 April 1861 p5 col3

When E Wadge* married Mary Ann Mortimore at the Independent Chapel in March 1861, he was described as 'clerk to the Ashburton United Mines'.   

Western Times 23 March 1861 p5 col5

*Edwin Harvey Wadge and Mary Ann Harriet Mortimore                                                                            www.freebmd.org.uk

In April 1861 a case was heard at Exeter County Court where William Richards, captain of the West Ashburton Mine, was claiming £10 10s wages from Charles Wescomb, as one of the shareholders. The defence was that Mr Wescomb was merely acting as an agent.

The mine was started by William Richards and Capt. Philip Hawke in 1859 under the name of the East Hazel Mine, and Mr Erwin H Wadge had subsequently become involved. Mr Wadge was now articled to a solicitor in Teignmouth, but had then been living in Ashburton. A gentlemen's servant became the fourth shareholder. In March 1860 Mr Wadge had transferred all his shares to a new shareholder and resigned from the partnership. The new shareholder had the books examined, and Mr Wadge was called upon to correct errors and omissions before a meeting to be held in July 1860. Instead Mr Wadge and others, including his brother Edwin Wadge, seized the books and carried them off. The case, which was adjourned, got more complicated, not least because the name of the mine was changed from East Hazel to West Ashburton.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 12 April 1861 p10 col3

The Western Times was forthright in its analysis. Stating that 'fine copper lodes' had allegedly been indicated, it suspected 'gross swindling' (see quote above). The paper warned that people who tried to get rich quickly might keep their innocence, but not their money.

1865 'A brace' of miners, Johns and Kingdom, were remanded on bail. Johns, whilst drunk, had assaulted Constable Balsdon; Kingdom had then become involved, and he was charged with unlawful interference.  Western Times 5 May 1865 p7 col2

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'Buried Alive.' In 1867 an abandoned mine shaft was being filled in near Ashburton. Mr Andrews, a farmer, was standing within forty feet of the shaft when the ground collapsed, completely burying him. It was several hours before men were able to dig the body out, which was 'standing erect'.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 16 August 1867 p7 col2

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In 1870 the returns of copper ore from the Brook Wood Mine were encouraging

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1873 Three miners from Ashburton, James Pearce, Joshua Leaman and William Bramwell, were summoned for not paying a labourer whom they had sub-contracted to work for them at Town Wood Mine, Ilsington. They were ordered to pay the full amount of 12s wages, plus £1 5s 3d costs.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 25 February 1873 p4 col1

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Partnership dissolved between William W Mansell, Geo. Peverall and Wm Stansfield, working the Bowdon Hill Mine in the parish of Ashburton

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White's History, Gazetteer & Directory of Devon, 1878-79, p82 

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'The copper and tin mines are not worked at present.'

Kelly's Directory of Devonshire 1889 p24

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Petition for the winding up of the Ashburton Slate Quarries Ltd

London Gazette Issue 25254 27 July 1883, p3784

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In 1852 the Western Times reported that some large blocks of marble had been excavated from quarries adjoining the town. A suggested use was for chimney pieces, 'the veins and colour......are considered superior to any quarry in the South of Devon.'

Western Times 31 July 1852, p5 col5

A tablet made of local marble by T W Mann was erected in the Wesleyan Chapel in memory of Rebecca Michelmore. She left '£1000 in Consols', the interest of which was to be used for charitable purposes.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 24 December 1886 p3 col6

In 1897 Mr Fabyan Amery gave a talk entitled 'A piece of Ashburton marble.' In it he spoke of marble quarrying by Messrs Blacker at Stawell Bushes

Western Times 4 May 1897, p9 col7

A font at East Allington church was dedicated in December 1899 to the memory of the Rev. H R Fortescue. The base and approaching foot base were made of Ashburton Marble, 'richly veined and highly polished'.

Western Times 12 December 1899 p3 col5

In 1934 the King opened the new building of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Four steel stanchions at the sides of the stairwell were encased with Ashburton marble, mainly black with dull red veins. The architect, Mr George Grey Wornum, had chosen Ashburton marble because of the richness of its colour, and because he only wanted to use materials from within the Empire.

Western Morning News 9 November 1934 p8 col4

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In 1930 Stawell's Bush quarry plus fields, including a marble quarry, which were part of the Firth Estate, sold for £305 to Messrs H T Jenkins and Son Ltd., Torquay.

Western Times 25 July 1930, p14 col1                                                                               

Umber working was not confined to the eastern end of the town.

Whilst sinking a shaft at the end of West Street, in search of iron, a 'fine bed of umber' was discovered.

Western Times 9 August 1872 p7 col3

Partnership dissolved between William W Mansell, Geo. Peverall and Wm Stansfield, working the Bowdon Hill Mine in the parish of Ashburton

London Gazette Issue 23936 10 January 1873, p92

John Satterly talks of umber working at both ends of the town.

Memories of Ashburton in Late Victorian Days, John Satterly, Transactions of the Devonshire Association, 1952 vol 84 p34 

The shape of umber pits can still be seen in a field off Bowden Hill (on private land). On the 'Britain from Above' website http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/  the site can be seen in the bottom left hand corner of the image entitled 'The town and railway station, Ashburton, 1930'

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In 1869 it was reported that the umber now being extracted at the Umber Works was of a much better quality, and that the deposit stretched over a 'great many acres to the east of the town'. In December of the following year 200 tons of umber were being carted to the railway station*, to be taken to Totnes Quay . 

Western Times 15 October 1869  p8 col4

Western Times 23 December 1870 p7 col2

*This would not have been Ashburton Station - it did not open until 1872

In 1877 Messrs' Beer and Musgrove's baking shed at the Umber Works was destroyed by fire.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 7 September 1877 p8 col3

'Associated with the clay-slates skirting the eastern flank of Dartmoor are several patches of limestone; one of these commences at the town of Ashburton, and extends some two to three miles in a north-easterly direction. The beds composing it dip to the south-east, and consist in their upper portion of a massive grey rock in places largely quarried for agricultural and building purposes. The lower beds approach dolomite in character, and close to Ashburton, where they are separated by only a very thin band of clay-slates from the greenstone hill north of the town, have by their decomposition formed large deposits of umber that has been continuously worked for the last thirteen years.

The carbonates of lime and magnesia have doubtless been removed by the solvent action of water containing carbonic acid, thus giving rise to the formation of deposits of umber from twenty to thirty feet in thickness...

The deposit is worked by removing the overburden, consisting of from three to four feet in thickness of loam, and then sinking large rectangular pits in the umber till the unchanged rock is reached. The timber supporting the sides is then removed, the pit filled up, and another commenced alongside. The umber obtained, after being stamped in the usual manner, is ground under edge runners, and the liquid mud pumped up to the tanks, where it remains until it settles sufficiently to be dug out; the drying is then completed in a manner similar to that practised in the preparation of china clay.

The umber is used for making the so-called silicate-oxide paint, as a colouring matter for the coarser kind of cloth, and in the manufacture of brown paper.

The output of umber from this deposit for last year (1883) was 2766 tons, the price of which, delivered on the railway at Ashburton, averaged about 25s per ton.

The Umber Deposits at Ashburton, R J Frecheville (one of H M's Inspectors of Mines), Transactions of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, 1887, p217ff

Freely available via Google search at https://archive.org/stream/transactionsroy04corngoog/transactionsroy04corngoog_djvu.txt - Accessed 18-04-2016

In 1882 a property called Rose Cottage, with an adjoining field called Emmett's Park, failed to sell at auction. The reserve price of £700 reflected the presence of 'valuable' umber deposits. Afterwards the Roborough Umber Company, which leased an umber sett adjoining the cottage, negotiated to buy the premises.

Western Times 16 May 1882 p6 col5

10 years later what was described as an 'extraordinary price' was paid for the same cottage, garden, orchard and adjoining field at an auction at the Golden Lion Hotel. Mr Hosking was the successful bidder, paying £2375 - general opinion was that this valued the umber deposits at £1800 to £2000.

Western Times 15 December 1892 p3 col2 

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Accidents:

Thomas Squires, employed at the Devon and Cornwall Umber works, suffered serious injury to his legs during a collapse of earth. He was taken to the Cottage Hospital.
Western Times 9 December 1886 p2 col4

James Honywill suffered a severe injury to his foot when a large rock fell on it at the Devon and Cornwall Umber Company.
Western Times 4 May 1891 p2 col4

And misdemeanours:

Messrs Hosking and Pascoe, of the Ashburton Umber Works Company, were fined £1 at Ashburton Petty Sessions for having an unstamped weighbridge.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 24 April 1894 p7 col5

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White's Directory of Devon 1878-79 has the following entries for umber:

Roborough Umber Co., Nicholas Pascoe, Captain, Balland Cottage

Devon and Cornwall Umber Co., Jonathan Cock, Captain.

White's History, Gazetteer & Directory of Devon, 1878-79 pp 108,109
http://www.historicaldirectories.org

In the 1881 census 43 year old Jonathan Cock and his wife Jane were living at Dolbear. With them were four daughters and two sons, including 15 year old Jonathan jnr. All had been born at Roche in Cornwall apart from the three youngest girls, two of whom had been born at Veryan, and the very youngest, 9 year old Catherine, at Ashburton.
Jonathan was an umber mine agent; his sons were umber miners.
1881 census RG11, piece no. 2161, folio 18 p16

There are two entries for Umber Mines in the 1893 edition of Kelly's Directory of Devon and Cornwall:
Ashburton Umber Company, William Henry Hosking, Sec
Nicholas Pascoe, Captain
Devon and Cornwall Umber Mine (The Truro Colour Co.), Jonathan Cock, Agent
Kelly's Directory of Devon and Cornwall, Part 2, p1000
http://www.historicaldirectories.org

Nicholas Pascoe died in March 1908. The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette described him as having been the owner and manager of the Leny Water Umber Works.
Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 1 April 1908 p3 col3

Kelly's Directory of Devon and Cornwall 1910 has the following entry under Umber Proprietors:

Ashburton Umber Co., William Henry Hosking, Proprietor

20, Courtenay Park, Newton Abbot, and Ashburton

Kelly's Directory of Devon & Cornwall, 1914.Part 2. p1188
http://www.historicaldirectories.org

William H Hosking, the son of W H Hosking, died at his home, Umbria, in East Street, in 1914.  Connected with the umber industry, he was, said the Western Times, formerly a manager of the Leny Water Timber Works*.

The flag at the Liberal Club hung at half mast until the funeral.
Western Times 13 February 1914 p14 col1

* The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette calls this the Leny Water Umber Works in 1908
When Mr Abraham gave land to build the new Cottage Hospital on, it was described as being near Leny Water
Western Times 11 April 1887 p4 col3

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At one stage the Ashburton Color Co., Devon had freehold and leasehold Lands.

Undated documents ref X 116/44 are in the Cornwall Record Office

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