SUMMARY
The Tinners’ Lane tinwork lies in the bottom of a north to south trending valley and is situated at N.G.R. SX 181696. The vegetation is of dense deciduous woodland, tufty grass and brambles. The inclined shaft [03] and its spoil dominates the site and a partly stone lined platform [011] is probably the base on which winding machinery once sat. The other features are probably linked to an earlier phase of streaming, which was largely destroyed by the shaft and its spoil.
Map showing the location of Tinners’ Lane tinwork
Figure V.20 Tinners’ Lane tinwork (with context numbers). Click on the image to enlarge.
DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION
01 A 5.2 metre wide metalled road. This is the County Highway leading from Park Farm [SX 181693] to Penkestle Moor [SX 179699].
02 A 28 metre long, 1.3 metre wide and 1.5 metre high stone faced, stone and earth bank. This is a field boundary.
03 A 21 metre long, 11.2 metre wide and 4 metre deep steep sided hollow. Cut into the eastern side of this feature there is an inclined shaft, which was drained through an adit which emerged at SX 186696. Material from the digging of this shaft was probably hoisted to the surface using winding machinery situated on platform [011]. The hollow was formed by the clearing of overburden prior to the sinking of the shaft, and it’s depth is exaggerated by the presence of substantial dumps on all sides.
04 A 5 metre long, 0.8 metre wide and 1.1 metre high drystone revetting wall. This feature prevented material slipping into hollow [03].
05 A 2.6 metre long, 0.4 metre wide and 1 metre high drystone revetting wall. This feature prevented material slipping into hollow [03].
06 A 5 metre long, 4 metre wide and 1.7 metre deep flat bottomed hollow, revetted on the western side by a drystone wall. Interpretation of this feature was not possible.
07 A 14 metre long, 9 metre wide and 2.7 metre high irregular shaped mound. This is waste material mined from the inclined shaft.
08 A 14 metre long, 4.6 metre wide and 1.8 metre deep flat bottomed gulley between mounds [07] and [09]. This is a trackway which served the inclined shaft.
09 An 18 metre long, 7 metre wide and 2.6 metre high irregular shaped mound. This is waste material mined from the inclined shaft.
010 A 0.7 metre high drystone revetted wall forming a narrow “blind” passage. This feature prevented material slipping onto platform [O11]. Rope or chains from the winding machinery situated on platform [011] may have passed through the passage into the inclined shaft.
011 A 6 metre long and 4 metre wide platform. The winding machinery which pulled the mined rock from the inclined shaft may have been situated on this platform.
012 A 4 metre long, 3 metre wide and 1.5 metre deep flat bottomed hollow. Interpretation of this feature was not possible.
013 A 4.4 metre diameter and 1.1 metre deep, steep sided hollow. Prior to the mining operation this area was streamed, and it is possible that this feature may be part of this largely destroyed phase of earlier exploitation.
014 A 5.8 metre long, 4.4 metre wide and 2 metre deep, steep sided hollow. See context [013] for further details.
015 A 9 metre long, 4.6 metre wide and 1.4 metre deep steep sided hollow. See context [013] for further details.
016 A 6 metre square and 2 metre deep, steep sided hollow. See context [013] for further details.
017 A 9 metre long, :8 metre wide and 1.7 metre high mound. This is probably waste material mined from the inclined shaft.
018 A 15 metre long, 8 metre wide and 2.5 metre deep, steep sided and flat bottomed hollow. This feature is partially revetted. This may be the partially backfilled remnants of a feature associated with an earlier phase of streaming.
019 A 4 metre long, 2.8 metre wide and 1.1 metre deep hollow. See context [013] for further details.
020 A 4 metre wide and 2.7 metre high, steep slope. This is the western edge of the streamworks which formerly existed in this area.
021 A 3 metre long, 2.6 metre wide and 0.9 metre deep scoop cut into the side of dump [09]. This is probably an area in which dumping has not occurred.
022 A 3 metre long, 2.6 metre wide and 0.6 metre deep scoop cut into the side of dump [09]. This is probably an area in which dumping has not occurred.
023 A 14 metre long, 35 metre wide and 1.4 metre high curved bank. This is probably waste material mined from the inclined shaft.
024 A 6 metre long, 4.4 metre wide and 1.6 metre deep hollow. This is probably an area in which dumping has not occurred, and consequently the original ground surface is visible in the bottom of this feature.
025 A 3.6 metre long, 2.8 metre wide and 0.9 metre high mound. This may be waste material mined from the inclined shaft.
The Early Tin Industry 