Tavy and Tamar Valleys (Devon side) - Lodes 37-44

Lode 37 - Wheal Capeltor 1810, Devon Great United 1840s-1880s

A relatively unsuccessful mine on the western stringers of the Devon Great Consols Main Lode. 19th century activity included several shafts. Willesford's Shaft is interesting, as it may be named after the Revd Willesford, who was one of the Tavistock Canal's original shareholders in 1803. This shaft may therefore date from the 1810 working of Wheal Capeltor. There is a lot of surface activity for such a small area marked on the 1880s OS map, which must reflect the desire of the mine's shareholders to emulate the success of their larger neighbour to the east.

This was not however reflected in the mine's production figures!

Lode 38a - Name & date unknown

Lode 39 - Wheal Fortescue

A small shaft dump is marked on the 1880s OS map just east of Combe Farm and appears to be all that survives above surface of this small mine, one of many which sprang up in the 1840s-50s, eager to try their luck in the immediate vicinity of Devon Great Consols. Most of these were failures.

Lodes 40-44 - Lamerhooe Peninsula

Several lodes in close proximity are known from Symons' 1848 Map of the Tavistock Mining District and may be associated with Lodes 36-38.

It is not known whether they were worked during the 19th century, but they pass westwards into Cornwall, being worked around Luckett at New Consols in the 19th and 20th centuries. East Cornwall Mining History Association is studying this large and complex site and are currently recording and restoring two miners' cottages in the village.