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For up-to-date information on the Combe Martin Project please refer to Trevor Dunkerley's web site.
Combe Martin - Trevor Dunkerley (Newsletter Summer 2002)
2001 started quietly enough, but that was quickly sorted
out with excavations at Brayford, and NDAS test pits at Parracombe. My
home patch, Combe Martin, kept me busy in between...
Rescue Archaeology at Spurway Gardens
Development Part 2.
Grid Ref: SS592,46l
In May 2001 Sharman Homes commenced stripping all growth from this 6 acre
site, and by early June the machinery had arrived to completely destroy
any archaeology. The site foreman was sympathetic to my appeals for access
and I was able to visit the site every 2 days for 3 months.
No previous planning had been made, and it was a case of extracting artefacts
from foundation trenches as the machines dug, and plotting their approximate
position on a pre-designed grid reference sheet, taking photographs or
walking the various mounds of soil before this was taken away for dumping.
In summary; the site revealed pottery from early medieval to 18th century,
the majority being 16th and 17th century North Devon Ware. Several sherds
of imported material were noted - South Devon Ware, Sussex Ware, Bristol
Ware and South Somerset. No pottery sherds from the 19th century were
found suggesting the practice of dumping in farm middens and spreading
was not used. The medieval
sherds were usually associated with mining spoil, and food residues -
oyster shells and cut bone. Clay tobacco pipe stems and bowl fragments
were numerous dating from 17th & 18th centuries.
Bone, horn, and teeth were plentiful on the site, much of it showing signs
of butchering. Species of domestic cow, roe deer, red deer, donkey, horse,
pig, wild boar, badger and wolf were identified. Very little glass and
no metal-ware was found.
The north and north-east areas of the site, adjacent to Lower Dean Lane,
and on the lower eastern site area, adjacent to Skirhead Lane, indicated
large areas of dumped mine waste. This material had clearly been dumped
for a long period, with long periods of no activity between periods of
dumping. In profile, one excavated bank showed 1.25m of waste, beneath
which lay 20cm of top soil, beneath which lay 1.9m of waste, beneath which
lay 17cm of top soil, beneath which lay 1.5m of waste. From amongst the
mine waste pieces of galena and zinc blend were extracted. All materials
from the site have been examined and photographed by the County Archaeologist
and are now deposited with Combe Martin
Museum along with a report. The materials will be displayed during 2002.
Trevor Dunkerley
Archaeology in Combe Martin: Trevor Dunkerley ( Newsletter No 5 2003)
(In 2001 a limited excavation took place in the garden of Christmas Cottage, Church Street, Combe Martin. This produced fragments of silverlead slag in what appeared to be a 16th-17th century context and in an area where documents indicate late medieval smelting activity.)
In 2002 excavations to explore the silver/lead smelting
debris in the centre of the old village continued where they had left
off in 2001). A further 2x1m excavation on the west edge of Christmas
Cottage garden revealed similar results to the eastern excavation.Well
defined undisturbed stratification to natural at 1.5m showed a commencement
of slag residues in early 16th century contexts, reaching a peak at the
beginning of the 17th century and tailing off towards the middle of that
century. A large number of recovered and identified clay-pipe bowls were
the main date identifying medium. As in the eastern excavation, a distinct
gap in human activity was apparent between early medieval pottery sherds
just above natural, and the commencement of slag residues and pottery
sherds in the early 16th century.
To determine if the extent of residues crossed Church Street, a 2x1m excavation was commenced in the garden of the former Middleton Farm (the property of Dr. Margaret Eames), the possible site of a water-powered smelt-mill. The first 1m of contexts indicated considerable 18/19th century disturbance. At 1.5m much industrial debris indicative of smelting was revealed in complicated but well-defined contexts. The excavation concluded at 2.5m depth having passed through contexts which suggested an area for mixing lime mortar, a cobbled yard, a stone filled drain, and the base of a robbed out wall. Large quantities of slag were discovered but unlike the previous excavations, only one clay-pipe bowl, making dating of the slag difficult. Early analysis suggests a similar pattern to the earlier excavations.
Probably one of the most important aspects of the Dr. Eames excavation was the discovery of a hammer-stone, which has been authenticated by RAM Museum Exeter. Also slag was discovered in contexts at 2.5m depth in association with Saxo- Norman pottery sherds. If this association is confirmed in further excavations, it will push the date for smelting in the village back much earlier than documentary evidence indicates. The importance of the smelting has been confirmed by the discovery of a sherd of 13th century southwest France Santonge polychrome pottery, probably associated with the first Cluniac Priory established in Barnstaple in 1072. The Cluniac order held lands in Combe Martin, and was responsible for Combe Martin and Berrynarbor Churches after the Conquest. Thanks to the interest and generosity of Dr. Justine Bailey, English Heritage, Fort Cumberland, the smelting debris is now being analysed by Dr. Sarah Paynter who visited Combe Martin and has taken a profound interest in the excavations.
The Historical Metallurgy Society Annual Conference Exmoor September 2003 - Trevor Dunkerley (Newsletter No 6 2003)
NDAS was one of the co-hosts to this conference and as a member of HMS it was my privilege to represent NDAS. The conference was over 3 days and held at Dunster with over 70 delegates in attendance.
After a reception and dinner on Friday, four fascinating
presentations, with a welcome address by Dr. Nigel Stone, National Park
Officer, Exmoor stimulated our interest. Rob Wilson-North (Exmoor National
Park Authority) offered an introduction to the archaeology of Exmoor followed
by Dr. Gill Juleff (University of Exeter) who spoke about the Exmoor Iron
Project so far. Mick Atkinson talked about the South-West and the South
Wales iron trade, and Dr. Peter Claughton (University of Exeter) discussed
silver mining landscapes: Carlisle to Combe Martin. On Saturday the delegates
divided on two full day field trips, one visiting Colton Pits (recently
cleared iron mining pits), Clatworthy reservoir
(Romano-British iron smelting site), Brendon Hills (19th century mining
sites) and Horner Wood (medieval and later woodland management, charcoal
production and iron working sites).
The other field trip visited Combe Martin (lead/silver mining and processing) Sherracombe Ford excavations (Romano-British iron smelting site) and Roman Lode (early iron mining site). After dinner in the evening we gathered for 7 short 10-minute contributions from Dr. Tim Young, Peter Crew, Dr. Gill Juleff and others.
On Sunday morning we gathered for five half-hour presentations. Tim Mighall and Peter Crew spoke about the environmental impact of medieval iron bloomeries. The Exmoor Iron Project offered 3 presentations by students followed by Simon Timberlake speaking on Medieval lead smelting at Cwmystwyth in mid-Wales. Adam Sharpe (Cornwall Archaeology Unit) offered a very interesting insight into the use of GIS techniques to map the mining landscape, and I concluded the conference with a presentation on the joint report by English Heritage on the excavations in Combe Martin and 16th/17th century silver/lead smelting debris. Presentation stands of the excavations at Combe Martin and Sherracombe Ford provided added interest for delegates.
Archaeology in Combe Martin 2003 - Trevor Dunkerley (Newsletter No 6 2003)
It has been a busy year with three separate excavations, but thanks to the input of members of the Tiverton Archaeology Group, Jim Knights of NDAS, and members of the Combe Martin Silver Mine Research and Preservation Society, each excavation has progressed well and advanced our understanding of the village and its inhabitants over the centuries.
A training dig was commenced in May adjacent to Harris’s Mine Shaft.
The purpose was to provide training for members of CMSMRPS in the techniques
of excavation, recording and report publication. The site, predominantly
a spoil waste tip, was chosen with a view to discovering the floor and
capstan remains of the horse whim used to haul waste from the mine, and
the remains of the horse stable. The excavation also offered the opportunity
to cut through the waste tip to try to determine the date of the sinking
of Harris’s shaft, and the date it was widened. This would also
provide evidence of the mineral ores extracted and also of medieval mining
through the waste of this period being brought to the surface by 19th
century miners. The excavations will continue over the next 2 years.
At the request of Mr. George Payne, a 2x1m test pit was placed in his garden to uncover an external wall and floor of what was known in the village over the last 200 years as the tithe barn. The building was unusual in that it had carved stone mullioned windows, was of two storeys with substantial 80cm walls. The purpose of the excavation was to offer a date for the building and to seek clues to its origins.
The excavation provided several surprises and the data
will be assembled this winter in a report. July brought the National Archaeology
Weekend with seven archaeological or historical events with which the
public could become involved. Over 500 persons attended the various events
with a high percentage of villagers attending, which is very encouraging.
July also saw the commencement of a second test pit, 3x2m, in the garden
of Dr. Margaret Eames to determine the extent of the silver/lead slag
discovered last year. A large quantity of large oval beach stones were
uncovered, all of Hangman Grit and clearly brought round by sea from Heddon’s
Mouth. Their purpose is still something of a mystery. The excavation is
now to a depth of 2.3m with some very interesting contexts and much 16th
century slag. English Heritage Centre for Archaeology has now published
the report of the previous two years work. It is Report 79/2003 and entitled
Lead Smelting Waste from the 2001-2002 Excavations
at Combe Martin, Devon, ISSN 1473-9224. A copy is lodged in the Combe
Martin Library.
September brought 40 members of the Historical Metallurgy Society to the village to view the excavations in Dr. Eames garden and at Harris’s Mine Shaft. Mike Warburton and other members of CMSMRPS showed them around Mine Tenement. The archaeological work in the village certainly impressed members of the society and several important contacts were made.
Harris’s Shaft Excavations, Combe Martin 2004 - Trevor Dunkerley (Newsletter No 8 2004)
The above excavations are now complete. The Combe Martin Silver Mines Research and Preservation Society has been using landscape archaeological techniques to further its information base of the Mine Close and Mine Tenement site. Over the last two years we have used geophysical survey (examination and plotting of sub-surface features, using fluxgate gradiometer and resistance surveys), geomorphological research (examining the geology and soils around Harris’s shaft), and ‘testpits’, (to test hypotheses developed through fieldwork). In 2005 we will be using topographical survey (the production of scaled plans using equipment such as distance measuring devices, plane-tables or tapes) to further the information already gained.
Two achievements of the excavations stand out. Firstly, through the identification and dating of clay pipe bowls and pottery sherds, we have determined that the mines continued to be worked during the 18th century. There is no documentary evidence for this. Secondly, as the diagram shows, it is now evident that Corner Lane, which divides the fields of Mine Close and Mine Tenement, was originally as deep at this point as at the village end of the lane providing further evidence that Corner Lane may originally have been a deep open mining trench throughout its length.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank members of NDAS and TAG who have assisted with these excavations over the last two years. In 2005 we will be looking at the piece of ground in front of the Blacksmith’s Shop on which Jim Knights carried out a resistance survey this year, the results of which appear to show foundations of further buildings and possibly the site of the mine reservoir and water wheel.
Combe Martin: An Archaeological Update -Trevor Dunkerley (Newsletter No 9 2005)
It has been good to see various volunteers, who have assisted in excavations at Mine Tenement progressing in their chosen interests. Congratulations to Jenny Yendall for securing the position of administrator at South Molton Museum. Congratulations also to Anne Todd, (who is supervising our excavations this year) on the valuable work she is doing with Dr. Gill Juleff and Lee Bray on the next phases of the Exmoor Iron Project. Jim Knights, who is rapidly becoming ‘Mr. Geophysics’ for our area., has not only carried out resistivity surveys at Mine Tenement, but has also been surveying Holwell motte and bailey at Parracombe, a large area at Whitechapel Barton, and some very interesting features at Welcombe Farm, Charles.Well done to them all!
As for Combe Martin, research during the winter months led to the realisation that two fields to the north of Bowhay Lane were named ‘Rack Park’. This field-name indicates where rows of racks were situated on which new made cloth, having been ‘fulled’, was hung out to dry, ideally on a warm, south-facing slope. There is no record of Combe Martin having a fulling mill, (or locally, a tucking mill), and it has been supposed that the mills mentioned in the records of the parish were all grain (grist) mills. This field name suggested something different.
Fulling is the beating and cleaning of cloth in water. The process shrank the loose fibres of the cloth, making it a denser fabric. Originally this was done by foot, but later in a fulling mill which was usually water-powered.We know that Combe Martin had a thriving rope and cobblers thread industry, and records also indicate a small lace industry along with cottage based weaving – hence the several loom weights that have come to light in excavations. It would not be surprising, therefore, that the village should have a fulling mill.
But where might such a mill have been situated in the
Mine Tenement area? It would have required a plentiful and consistent
supply of water, so the first thing to do was to trace a leat. During
the landscape alterations at Cato Ridge, the writer noted the destruction
of a clay-lined channel, cut into the rock, and running from the junction
of Watery Lane and Corner Lane diagonally across the field towards the
land of Barry and Yvonne Squires. Closer inspection revealed the channel
dissecting Barry and Yvonne’s land (traces of it are still to be
clearly seen), and running directly into Mine Tenement land in line with
the blacksmith’s workshop.
But where could the water source have been?
Close inspection of the levels of Watery Lane (now why was it called watery lane we ask?) show that the source was almost certainly at the top of Chapel Lane. Additionally there was a known spring midway between Chapel Lane and Corner Lane. The reason why such a deep cutting through rock was made to cross Corner Lane is thus revealed. This would have been a substantial leat carrying a good and consistent supply of water.
The large quantities of medieval pottery discovered during the cutting of the new road through the Mine Tenement area, have raised many questions. If a fulling mill was sited where the blacksmith’s workshop now stands it would offer a simple explanation. Fulling mills, like grain mills, were meeting places for the people of the village, and if it was of medieval origin one might expect a large quantity of ‘rubbish’ to accumulate over the centuries.
A further clue was offered in Issue 12 of the Combe Martin
Silver Mines Research and Preservation Society Journal with an extract
from the Woolmers Gazette, dated 26th October 1816:
‘Water Wheel For Sale – nearly new’. Had this twenty-foot
iron wheel replaced the fulling mill wheel to drive the 50 fathoms of
iron flat rods to pump Director’s Shaft? If there had been a medieval
fulling mill at the site, it would simply have required updating in 1813
when new mining works commenced, and the wheel being offered for sale
in 1816 would certainly have been ‘nearly new’?
Archaeological research is rather like trying to put all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together in the correct sequence. There is now just too much evidence pointing to an unknown village fulling mill to be dismissed as coincidence. This summer our excavations will attempt to discover more about this mill and its associations with mining in the village.
Trevor Dunkerley and Combe Martin Silver -Terry Green
As has become usual, this newsletter contains an update on Trevor Dunkerley’s work in Combe Martin. Just in case you missed it, I’m sure he won’t mind if I add in a summary (and slight elaboration) of the recent accolade he received by way of the North Devon Journal (Thursday May 5th 2005).
In 2001 Trevor, having recently moved to the village, set out to relay a path outside his cottage. Having an archaeological background, however, and a great deal of energy, he went beyond what was necessary and ended up with an excavation from which he extracted materials that began to rewrite the history of silver extraction in Combe Martin. What he had found was initially a mystery, and it was not until he met up with Dr Peter Claughton, an acknowledged expert on the history of mineral mining in the South West, that he found out that he had excavated some of the slag produced in the silver smelting process. Very significantly, he had found it in association with ceramic materials that could be dated, and so began the business of interpreting the history of Combe Martin silver extraction archaeologically as opposed to through documentary history. In fact it was the first physical evidence found to back up the documents and as such aroused the interest of archaeometallurgists nationwide, indeed worldwide with universities in America and Europe asking to be sent samples of the material.
The documents said that Henry VIII had had a silver smelter built in Combe Martin, and when Trevor extended his excavations into his neighbour’s garden across the road, he found evidence for just such an object. As the only site in Britain where such evidence had been found, this caught the attention of English Heritage and Dr Sarah Paynter of EH has been advising and providing laboratory services for the growing project ever since.
In addition to corroborating the documentary record, Trevor’s researches have succeeded in pushing back the earliest date of silver extraction in the village by several centuries, to the 12th century, at least. In addition he has found Romano-British material which does not of itself indicate a Roman interest in the local minerals, though it would not be at all surprising. In the context of possible Romano-British or Early Medieval activity, Trevor’s interpretation of the Combe Martin lanes as possible early mining trenches is extremely interesting and an example of evidence which is so obvious that everyone misses it, until one individual looks at it with a fresh eye.
The most recent upshot of the work that Trevor initiated was an international seminar at the British Museum at which Trevor was due to speak. Unfortunately ill health made this impossible, but Peter Claughton and Sarah Paynter spoke on his behalf. The information that they were able to relay was extremely well received with many questions afterwards, always a sign of keen interest. As Sarah said, “there is still a glaring absence of work on this kind of waste … from anywhere in the world”.
Among the archaeological developments going on in North Devon, Trevor’s work stands out as a very significant contribution with not only local, but national importance. Trevor is to be sincerely congratulated on “one of the most important archaeological finds of the last hundred years ”.
More Slag! - Trevor Dunkerley (Newsletter No 10 2005)
For me, probably the most exciting archaeological news to come out of North Devon in recent years is the discovery of copper smelting slag at Bampfylde, just north of Heasley Mill in the parish of North Molton. Bampfylde was the largest British copper mine in the 19th century, but there is no definitive documentary history of copper being smelted at this site or in the district around. Roger Burton, who has been investigating the area, provided me with a sample of the slag and a subsequent river and field walk led to the discovery of further samples both from the river and dry land (see plate 1). In situ charcoal was required to try to date the material and by a stroke of complete luck, Norman Govier of North Molton Historical Group, during a later river walk, found a piece of slag which contained charcoal.
The piece of charcoal (see plate 2) embedded within the slag was enough
for the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Group to carry out
an AMS C14 dating. The cost of the dating was partially paid for by North
Molton Historical Group, The Exmoor Mines Research Society, and North
Devon Archaeological Society. The balance of the cost was provided by
Dr. Peter Claughton.
The Radiocarbon Age BP (Before Present, ie. conventionally before 1950)
was determined as, on average, 415 +- 35. This was determined from the
following scale of probabilities:
68.2% probability
1430AD (63.5%) 1490AD
1600AD ( 4.7%) 1610AD
95.4% probability
1420AD (80.1%) 1530AD
1570AD (15.3%) 1630AD
The more probable 15th/16th century date makes this an important site
for the history of smelting in England!
Copper slag looks very similar to iron slag to the naked eye.We wonder
if this means that sites where iron slag has been discovered in North
Devon now have to be revisited in the light of this important discovery?
Early in 2006 a river/field walk is to be organised along the length of
the River Mole and Long Wood by those organisations who contributed towards
the cost of the radiocarbon dating. It is hoped this exercise may provide
information regarding the geographical location of the smelting site.
Trevor Dunkerley has set up a “blog” on the internet in which he posts archaeological news from North Devon. To view this online magazine, go to http://Ndology.blogspot.com. You can make your own contributions to the site by emailing Trevor at trevordunkerley@waitrose.com
Investigating a Fulling Mill at Combe Martin -Trevor Dunkerley (Newsletter No 12 2006)
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