Journal 22.

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THE HIDDEN AND LOST INDUSTRIES OF COMBE MARTIN

Trevor Dunkerley

The topography of the Combe Martin valley in 2008 offers little insight into its past industrial
heritage other than a medieval agricultural background of well preserved fossilized medieval
strip fields and burgage plots 1 . This North Devon landscape has healed from the scars of
past industrial activity.

From the 17th to the 20th century, the south side of the valley slopes were dotted with

Figure 8-1: Combe Martin valley looking approximately north-east. Photograph:

Trevor Dunkerley

limestone quarries and 19 lime kilns 2 , whilst the north side, on the slates, the valley slopes
bore evidence of intermittent silver/lead mining and smelting from the 13th to the 19th
century 3 . This latter industry was very much of a ‘boom and bust’ nature 4 .

Unlike other villages around Exmoor 5 , there was no documentary evidence to suggest the
presence of fulling mills in Combe Martin, although research on early field names told
another story. The names ‘Hemp Hay’, ‘Flax Hay’ and ‘Rack Park’ were discovered, the

1
Dunkerley T, 2005
2
Devon Historic Environment Record
3
Paynter, S, Dunkerley, T, and Claughton, P, 2003
4
Claughton, P, 1989
5
Gillard, J M, 2002

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Journal 22.
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former two being in much abundance 6 . This raised the question of whether major industries
of rope, sailcloth and wool production in the village had been overshadowed during the
medieval and post medieval periods by the ‘romance’ of silver production, with knowledge of
these former industries lost to memory and record. Archaeological excavation has suggested
this to be the case.

Excavation commenced in 2003 on a site which had purported to be the mill pond of a
silver/lead mining complex. Documentary evidence revealed the purchase of an iron water-
wheel at the beginning of the 19th century to pump water from the mines being driven by

water from the mill pond 7 . A newspaper report advised of the drowning in the mill pond of the

Figure 8-2: Composite of Combe Martin activities: Main Picture (centre): The hemp pool west
wall.
6Clockwise from top left: Contexts of water-borne sediments; The Excavators; Inclusive and
1842 Combe Martin Tithe Apportionment M
7accessible; Visitors try their hand – National Archaeology Week, 2008. All photographs: Trevor
The Woolmers Gazette 1816
Dunkerley.

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Journal 22.
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son of the blacksmith of the silver/lead mining complex 8 .

Five years of excavation in a most unlikely topography, and considerable documentary

research has determined 9 , that the mill pond of a mining complex started its industrial
beginnings as a purpose stone built hemp retting pool 10 . It was of massive proportions,
probably of monastic origin, with an associated hemp processing mill 11 , and dating from the
early 12th century with pottery sherds of this date discovered in the lower context silts of the
pool 12 .

Sometime during the 15th century the mill converted to the fulling of cloth and the retting pool
probably became redundant. In the early 19th century the mill converted again to the
pumping of water from the mines, but this venture quickly failed, and the mill pond was used
for a period to provide water for hydraulic pumps on the lower slopes of the valley. By the
late 19th century, the pond became a convenient dumping ground for mining wastes and was
returned to agricultural use by 1890.

Archaeology CMSMRPS (Combe Martin Silver Mine Research and Preservation Society) is
a Community Archaeology Initiative and is inclusive and accessible to any person who has
an interest in archaeology. Archaeology CMSMRPS commenced in 2002 in order to assist
with the professional recording of the archaeology of the Mine Tenement site. Further details
can be found on its website at http://www.cmsmrps.org.uk .

Bibliography:

Allan, J., 1998, The Medieval Pottery from Leyhill, RAM Exeter
Claughton P., 1989, ‘The Combe Martin Mines’, in Out of this World and into Combe Martin, Combe
Martin Local History Group, Combe Martin, Rotapress
Devon Historic Environment Record, Devon County Council
Devon Record Office: The Woolmers Gazette 1816: Archives
Dunkerley T., 2005, An Early Metalliferous Landscape Set Among Fossilized Medieval Field Strip
Systems in Combe Martin, North Devon: A Parish Landscape Study, - Exeter University,
Archaeology Department
Dunkerley T., 2008, Burgage Plots and Medieval Fossilized Field Strips in Combe Martin, North
Devon, forthcoming
Gillard J. M., 2002, The Medieval Landscape of the Exmoor Region: Enclosure and Settlement in an
Upland Fringe, Thesis (Ph.D) - Exeter University, Archaeology Department
North Devon Record Office: 1842 Combe Martin Tithe Apportionment Map B109/1
North Devon Record Office: North Devon Journal 1845: Archives
North Devon Record Office: ref: B9/5/31
Paynter, S, Dunkerley, T, and Claughton P, 2003 Lead Smelting Waste from the 2001-2002
Excavations at Combe Martin, Devon, Report 79/2003, Portsmouth Centre for Archaeology,
English Heritage
TD

8
North Devon Journal 1845
9
Courtesy of Mrs. Margaret Reed, Researcher, Pilton, Barnstaple
10
Dunkerley T., 2008
11
North Devon Record Office: ref: B9/5/31
12
Allan, J, 1998

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