Black Tor Tinworks

The remains of Black Tor Tinworks are easily found since they lie some 150 yards from the main Princetown - Yelverton road. There are 2 ruins - one on either side of the Meavy stream. The tin works are quite old - probably 16th century - and are fairly well preserved. Tin works were rectangular buildings that were powered by water. Tin ore was brought in to be crushed by iron shod stamps of timber that were powered by water. The crushed ore was then allowed to settle in buddles of moving water. The heavier tin ore would sink as the lighter sandy gangue was swept away. The tin could then be smelted into purer white tin by furnaces in a blowing house. Tin ore was laid with charcoal inside the furnace which was fanned by water driven bellows. The molten tin would drop down into a stone tray from which it was ladled into moulds. Both of these ruins were used in stamping and smelting. The remains of furnaces can be seen in both of them.

Park at the side of the B3212 road at SX 570718. It's a short walk to the Meavy valley and the recognisable logan stone of Black Tor. The remains of the tinworks lie next to a delightful waterfall. Walk upstream to see the stone row. Walk downstream to see the aqueduct of the Devonport Leat.

This is a very easy walk of about 1 mile. Lots to see in a small area. No restricted military areas.

	The logan stone at Black Tor.
	A closer view of the logan stone.
	The main stack of Black Tor.
	Black Tor Falls - SX 5747166. On the right horizon lies the diminutive point of Cramber Tor. On the left hillside you may be able to make out a double stone row. Remains of a tin stamping mill lie just below the waterfall.
	A double mortarstone that was used in a stamping mill. The hollows were filled with tin ore and then stamped by water powered timber "pestles" or stamps.
	One of the tin stamping mills at Black Tor Falls. The wheelpit that housed the waterwheel that drove the stamps would have been just left of the mortarstone.
	A homemade bridge over the Meavy at Goadstone Pool
	A view looking down the stone row from the kistvaen. Black Tor is on the right.
	The second stamping mill at Black Tor Falls. On the left is the lintel over the doorway. In the background lies the remains of the first mill and buddle.
	Another view of the stamping mill. The narrower chamber on the left contained the wheelpit that drove the stamps in the larger chamber just in front of the door.
	On the right is the remains of the first stamping mill. On the left, just below the retaining wall is a level terrace which is all that remains of the tin dressing floor and buddle.
	The Devonport Leat viaduct over the Meavy.
	Devonport Leat hurtles down the side of Raddick Hill and passes swiftly over the viaduct.
	Water from the Mewey is added to the Devonport Leat just below the aqueduct.
	Devonport Leat (SX 570710) as it curves around ready to enter the wood of Stanlake Plantation.
	Lots of old farm enclosures are scattered around the Leat at SX 570710. Stanlake farm was discontinued in the 1920's upon the insistence of the water authorities who feared that farm effluent would end up in their reservoir. All the farms around Burrator were treated in the same way.