John H Luxton Photography

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Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine, Devon

Birch Tor and Vitifer mine is located in the valley of the Redwater Brook, to the east of the B3212 Moretonhampstead to Princetown road, below the Warren House Inn, the mine was worked between the mid–18th century and 1925.
This area has been mined and worked as an open cast since medieval times. Birch Tor mine on the eastern side of the Redwater Brook valley and Vitifer mine on the west were separate mines, but for most of their working lives they were operated under the same management and were amalgamated in 1845. Underground mining ceased around 1925 though sporadic working of the dumps continued until around 1938/9.
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  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - August 1977

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - August 1977

    I am not sure what this feature is. It is too small to be an adit - see map and pen for scale but would guess that it was a passage way for flat rods. From what I can recall it is located near the path from Bennett's Cross. Photographed when I was undertaking a project on Dartmoor Mines for my "A" level Geography Course.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - August 1977

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - August 1977

    VitiferMine_Neg_02

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - August 1977

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - August 1977

    Open Cast Works at Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - September 02, 1982

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - September 02, 1982

    View towards Headland Warren showing gullies created by early miners working the backs of the lode.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Building foundations.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Some evidence of metal work embedded in the floor of the Miner's Dry - a heating pipe or roof support. Pocket binocular case provided for scale.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Foundations of the Miners' Dry. The circular foundation of the chimney can be made out.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Carpenter's Shop right and the miners' left. Birchtor can be seen in the back ground.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Remains of the Carpenter's Shop.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Building remains at Birch Tor & Vitifer Mine. This was the Carpenter's Shop.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Track to Birch Tor and Vitifer from the Warren House Inn - the remote Inn which served the needs of the miners and was once reputed to be quite a rough hostelry!

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Open workings with water emerging from a sealed adit.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    View of the wheel pit along the course of the flat rod system - the flat rods would have passed to the shaft, believed to be Dunstan's Shaft via the opening under the footpath.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    A passageway under a footpath for flat rods linked to the waterwheel which pumped from Dunstan's Shaft.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Water Wheel Pit at Birch Tor and Vitifer which appears to have been use for pumping.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Water Wheel Pit at Birchtor & Vitifer Mine.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Looking south west across the Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine site

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    An open working at Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 14, 1988

    Mineral vein in an open working at Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine.

  • The Warren House Inn, Dartmoor, August 1982

    The Warren House Inn, Dartmoor, August 1982

    The well known hostelry located between Postbridge and Moretonhampstead on the Exeter to Princetown Road in the middle of Dartmoor originally served the miners of the nearby Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine and was recoded as being quite a "lively" place. A good selection of all British built cars can be seen outside. Rolls Royce, Austin Maxi, Ford Fiesta, Triumph Herald, Rover 2000 and a Ford Escort.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 07, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 07, 1988

    The smithy and miners' dry building canbe seen to the left with the tree growing out of it. The tree in 2020 has since died and is only a stump. On the right is the remains of the mine carpenter's work shop.

  • Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 07, 1988

    Birch Tor and Vitifer Tin Mine, Dartmoor, Devon - April 07, 1988

    View west across the Vitifer mine site.

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