Whiteworks Mine was a located south of Princetown in the heart of Dartmoor. It was operational during various periods of the 19th century. The mine was known to have been in action in 1820 but closed in 1826. It was working again in the 1860s and closed sometime after 1876. The stamps, waterwheel and launder still remained in 1890. Subsidence in 1942 caused further obliteration of some of the old workings.

An archaeological field survey in 1989 recorded the most notable surviving feature of the mining complex as being the large number of shafts generally orientated northeast-southwest or northwest-southeast, and openworks and additional shafts on Peat Cot Hill.

Water for the mine was supplied by leats. At least eight leats were identified during the survey, the most complete example being Whiteworks Engine Stream.

One of the features the least supplied water to were the water wheels, two waterwheel pits were recorded in the survey. Other surviving features included whims, two of which were visible as raised revetted platforms, a stamps platform and possible dressing floor and mine buildings.