MDE11497 - 18th or 19th Century leat through Mines Wood (Monument)

Summary

A leat, supplying waterwheels in the western part of the 18th-19th century Bampfylde mining complex, runs along the western side of the Mole valley.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A leat forming part of the Bampfylde copper mining complex (MDE1219) runs from SS 7345 3309 to SS 7378 3281 along the western side of the Mole valley. It conveyed water to the two western wheels of the mining complex. The leat is marked by a hedgeline at its northern end, and further south is by a track in Mines Wood. Here it is up to 1.8 metres in width. At SS 7370 3292 the leat runs into a header pond or reservoir which is some 170 metres in length and 4.5 metres in width (see 1:1250 survey, MDE1219). The pond has been created by cutting into the west facing valley side to create a scarp 1.8 metres in height. The material from this operation has been used to dam the pond on its lower (eastern) side. A stone lined sluice arrangement carried water away from the northern end of the pond in order to bypass it when necessary. At its southern end the pond supplies a wheel pit at SS 7379 3281, and its continuation southwards has been blocked off by a stone revetted dam across the leat. This clearly shows that the pond is a later alteration of the leat. It continues southwards, becoming much narrower, being only 1.6 metres wide. It is tracable for a further 25 metres before being lost in an area of spoil dumping. South again it is visible for a further 30 metres before it ends at a second wheel pit, which it obviously supplied. [1] The mapping for this monument has been estimated using aerial photographs taken in 1946-8 and 2013. This requires confirmation. The pond earthworks, however, are visible on the 25 inch 1st and 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey maps. [2-6] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [7]

Sources/Archives (7)

  • <1>XY Unpublished document: Wilson-North, R.. Various. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 20 April 1993. [Mapped feature: #45975 Pond, ]
  • <2> Aerial photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946 -1948. Vertical Aerial Photography.
  • <3> Aerial photograph: Getmapping. 2013. Vertical Aerial Photography of Exmoor National Park.
  • <4> Verbal communication: Various. 1993-. Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Team staff comments. Catherine Dove, 5 September 2017.
  • <5> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.
  • <6> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-1907. County Series, 2nd Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.
  • <7> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 917642, Extant 1 December 2021.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 73 SW24
  • National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 917642

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 7362 3291 (336m by 354m) (2 map features)
Map sheet SS73SW
Civil Parish NORTH MOLTON, NORTH DEVON, DEVON

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (3)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Dec 1 2021 2:21PM

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