Haytor Iron Mine

Initially developed through opencast methods and by an inclined adit prior to 1828. A later adit was driven from the bottom of the valley, located about 200 yards east of the hotel. Its last active period was from 1916 to 1921. Referencing Richardson P.H.G.‘s work from 1991, ‘Mines of Dartmoor & the Tamar Valley after 1913’, it’s noted that the mine was developed on three parallel ‘flat’ lodes, each dipping at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the southeast.

The main accessible lode has been extensively stoped, creating a large cavern ranging from 6 to 20 feet in height and about 200 feet deep and wide along the lode’s strike. This cavern ends in a lake. The other two lodes lie above and below the main one, sometimes separated by as little as 4 feet of roof or floor from the main lode. Inside a side adit branching off the main lode, there are two ore chutes from the lode above.

The stope floor consists of rubble, comprising a mix of killas country rock and magnetite-bearing iron ore. The magnetite crystals found within range in size from microscopic to about 3mm along the edge. While the entrance to the early adit is obscured and barred, the entrance to the lower adit (SX773772) is visible from a public footpath, although it too is heavily barred and serves as drainage for the mine.

1864-1876 Wm Browne 1877 Wm Browne & Sons 1877-1883 Haytor Magnetic Iron Co 1907-1913 Ilsington Mining Co. Ltd 1919-1920 Jos. Phillips 1921-1925 Haytor Iron Mines Ltd