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Summary

West Challacombe Silver Lead Mine was in operation in the 1800s. The workings are very much overgrown and only the spoil heap is visible. Spoilheaps in the valley floor on the N side of the stream mark the site of nineteenth century mining activity.

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Description

Spoilheaps in the valley floor on the N side of the stream mark the site of nineteenth century mining activity. Reports suggest that pre-1800 mining activity was concentrated in the area between West Challacombe Farm and the stream, in an area shown as an orchard (701) on the Tithe map. No evidence survives in this area and the DCCSMR (SS54NE-010) express doubts about there ever having been a mine here. The nineteenth century mine was for lead and silver, and the shafts S of the West Challacombe were drained by five adits cut through from below Lester Cliffs and Wild Pear Beach (see DCCSMR SS54NE-010-1,2,3,4,5). The mine was probably opened in 1844, possibly re-opened in 1855, again in 1864, and worked for iron and lead from 1873-8. Although the land was owned by West Challacombe Farm, the leases for the mines had become very complex and it is not known if the owners of the farm had any direct interest in the mines. [1]
There are certain areas at West Challacombe and on Knap Down where workings are "ancient" but not sufficient is known to date them accurately. In the mid 1850's prospecting for silver lead was in hand at West Challacombe. New Combmartin Silver-Lead reopened at West Challacombe in 1864 but it failed with little or no production. At West Challacombe there were attempts at reworking from 1874 onwards involving the Combmartin Silver-lead Mining Co. and General Mining Investment Co. and later the West Combemartin Mining Co.
The remains of West Challacombe Mine (disused) are situated in an unnamed valley bottom on the north side of a stream. The exact position of the adit is no longer discernable but it was most probably at SS 5849 4736 in the centre of a hollow depicted on map but now overgrown with brambles and scrub. The hollow has been encroached on by plough soil from the pasture field to the immediate north. The spoil heap associated with the mine is 10 metres to 40 metres upstream to the south-east. It is also covered with scrub and trees and there is now no trace of the apparent retaining wall depicted on its north east side on map.
Claughton's Map, depicts the area to the east of the mine (centred at SS 5858 4740 and shown on map as an orchard) as being pre 1800 workings but this area has now been ploughed through and is pastureland with no evidence of previous workings.
The West Challacombe Mine was not only applicable to this one site but covered an area of land, or sett, comprising the limits of the mine and also included shafts, adits and openworks along the coast from Lester Point (SS 5751 4762) to Little Hangman (SS 5851 4806).
At SS 5858 4735 some 80 metres upstream to the east of the adit are the remains of a dam and reservoir. This is not associated with the mine workings but is a modern construction built about 1975 by Mr Richards.
Mine. C9 challacombe. Lead and silver.
There is an irregular (non-rail-tipped) spoilheap with probable run-in adit below and a dam just upstream. Possibly medieval to 19th century.
There are shafts and an adit between 200 and 300 yards south of West Challacombe Farm. There is also an adit in the cliff at Lester Point. Trials were made by Gullet in 1790 to 1792 and by Combmartin and North Devon Mining Company in 1843. The site was abandoned in 1845. Further trials for silver-lead were made between 1853 and 1854. Between 1864 and 1866 the site was promoted as New Combmartin Silver-lead Mine. There were further workings in 1873, 1874 and 1876 to 1878 as West Combmartin Mine. Hangman Hill Mine. The north part of West Challacombe Sett. Worked for iron in 1796 to 1802 and 1825 by the Royal Stannery and British Mining Association. It was worked between 1855 and 1856 as the North Devon or Combmartin New Iron Mine), and in 1867 by the Hangman Hill Iron Mining Company. [2]

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