Hi,

Our farm has an old run down engine house on it dating back to the 1800's and we also have an adit about 200 yards away from it theres very little info on net about the engine house and nothing at all about the adit. I've lived on the farm for nearly 18 years since i was five and know one has ever gone further than a about 150feet into it without getting scared and turning back, myself included. I have no knowledge or experience about mining/mines and just how far the adit goes back?i would be very appreciative if anyone could provide any information on the mine and adit? The mine is called aller mine?

Also im aware that the engine from the engine house was offered for sale in the Mining Journal on August 21st, 1880 would a copy of this still exist?

Regards

Hen

Aller mine is listed on Aditnow database and in Dines who says there is a deep (160yds long) and shallow adit is 290 yds long.
There are several shafts scattered around. A silver lead mine.
Put some photoes onto the albums in Aditnow database if you can.
Redruth library and a couple of private collectors will have copies of that Mining Journal entry you are seeking.
Others on this website may be able to help with more info and there may be someone who has actually had a look inside the workings for you. If not I am sure there will be volunteers.

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Thankyou for your reply Doug
Will definately upload some photos.
What does dines stand for?
regards
Henry

Government did a survey of GB geology in the 50's. Locally there is a report in two volumes is a great starting place for mine research. Covers Cornwall, Devon and bit of Somerset.
'The metalliferous mining region of South-West England' by HG Dines is the full title so everyone just calls it Dines for short.
You can get it (may need to order) in any local library and its also on sale on Amazon but its about £60 these days. ISBN-13: 978-0118800662.

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I bought mine in the early 70s from what was the Geological Museum at the original cover price in shillings. I can't remember how much, but it wasn't a lot!

Peter you making me feel old. Mine is priced inside cover at £5 5s 0d which was a fortune at that time.
I'll start a new thread to see who has the oldest copy still being used.

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Hmm. Maybe that's what I paid too. Twas about 1975. It seemed cheap to me, and I was a student as well!

Hello Hen,

A very basic survey of the Aller Mine engine house was undertaken by a chap called Damian Nance in the early 1990s, published in volume 13.2 of Mining History which I had the pleasure of editing. It is available on the web at:

http://www.pdmhs.com/BackIssues.asp 

There's also a short piece about the mine in Stafford Clark's Mining and Quarrying in the Teign Valley (1995). More info is also available in Schmitz (1980) The Teign Valley Silver Lead Mines published as a volume of British Mining. Also, see K Hamilton Jenkin's MInes of Devon (1981). There's certainly a copy of both the latter in Newton Abbot and Exeter libraries as also is the aforementioned Dines. Sorry I can't send you excerpts but its quite a lot of text. The OS 25-inch 1st edition map of 1888 is quite informative too and shows extensive mining remains around your area, including shafts, spoil heaps and buildings.

Hope this is some help. I could certainly find some more bits and pieces if you're interested to dig deeper.

I've done archaeological surveys of several other engine houses around Dartmoor myself but have never made it up to the Teign valley lead mines. I don't live far from you at Newton Abbot so I'd be very keen to come and have a look around if you'd allow it.

All the best

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Adding to "Bob Pit's" answer: - I have 3 newspaper articles in my data-base dating from 1853, and 2 x 1855 under the heading 'Birch Aller' as it was known. I can also track down more info for you if you wish.

I would welcome the chance to have a look at the mine with Bob Pit. Perhaps if permitted we could both come and look at it. We are both insured to visit surface and underground including Landowners Liability, which indemnifies the owner of any possible claim/s.

Please send me a Private Message regarding permission: thank you.

Kindest regards Tin Miner

Hi TM,

I think Birch Aller or 'Ellers' is a different sett NE of Bridford. at SX 8265 8700. Aller Mine is south of Christow at SX 8350 8390. Confused me to start with too.

Bob Pit

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Yes birch aller is in Bridford i believe i wish there was as much data available for our mine as there was for Birch Aller. On my way home from work yesterday i visited the Devon records office an found an intresting map of aller mine dating back to the pre 1900s will scan in a copy when i get chance.

Also took some photos of engine house an will upload now to the adit database.

A visit would be possible if you are still intresed Bob an TM i will just have to confirm it with my father but see no reason why he would object.

We are currently looking at restoring the engine house and converting into a dwelling for myself. Hoping to maintain all the original features. A neighbour down the road at wheal exmouth has a few years ago converted his into a stunning dwelling.

Any further information anyone could provide on the engine house or the adit/mine shafts would be greatly appreciated.

Regards Hen

Pictures are up under aller

Hen