Lost industrial landscapes
The intense heat and pressures generated as the granite of Dartmoor formed, produced a rich mineral layer which included tin, copper and iron ores. Early settlers used the ore they found in streams but as technologies improved people began to mine the ore from the ground. Tin mining became increasingly important during medieval times with stannary towns established around the moor in Tavistock, Chagford, Ashburton and Plympton to oversee the industry. Mining at this time used a technique called tin streaming which left huge scars in the landscape that we can still see today.
Tin mining went into decline in the later medieval period but with new Victorian technologies many mines were re-established and new mines exploiting copper and iron were set up.
Download Tin Industry Factsheet (PDF)
Discover more of the Dartmoor Story
- Visit Brimpts Tin Mine Trail to discover more about tin mining on Dartmoor
- Take a stroll down the Granite Tramway from Haytor Quarry where granite was quarried
- Explore the site of the Golden Dagger Mine near Warren House Inn
Do you want more information
- Read more about the heritage of Dartmoor and download fact sheets
- Explore the human timeline for Dartmoor
- Visit the Dartmoor Tinworking Research Group website to learn more about studying and preserving Dartmoor's tin mining heritage
