Tinners' cache 570m north east of Norsworthy Bridge

Reasons for Designation

Many small structures found within and close to tinworks are interpreted as storage buildings. They are often referred to as caches and they survive as very small chambers often composed of drystone walling attached to a rock outcrop or earlier feature such as a wall; others are dug into earlier spoil dumps. They are often circular or oval in shape and are only big enough to hold tools or perhaps black tin (a concentrate of the cassiterite). At least 40 caches are currently recorded on Dartmoor, although given the small size of these structures it is likely that many more await discovery. Well-preserved examples are considered to be of national importance. The tinners' cache 570m north east of Norsworthy Bridge survives well and contains environmental and archaeological information for the use and construction of the monument. This structure is considered to be an outstanding example its class.

Details

The monument includes a tinners' cache situated on the edge of a streamwork adjacent to Newleycombe Lake. The cache, which is beneath a large granite boulder, survives as a deliberately constructed chamber 5.5m long, by 3.2m wide and up to 1.4m high. The western side of the cache chamber is formed by a drystone wall standing up to 0.5m high. The large roof boulder partly rests on this wall and elsewhere sits on the natural subsoil. Access to the cache is through a 1.1m wide by 0.45m high gap on the southern side of the boulder. Leading from this entrance is a 5m long, 1.5m wide and 1m deep passage defined on the eastern side by the scarp denoting the edge of the streamwork. The cache is presumed to have been constructed by tinners for storage purposes.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract. It includes a 2 metre boundary around the archaeological features, considered to be essential for the monument's support and preservation.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

22399

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Other
Report for MPP, Greeves, T.A.P., An assessment of Dartmoor tinworking, (1990)

End of official list entry

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