1528
Joachim Hochstetter, Principal Surveyor and Master of Mines Royal. Worked “Cumph Martin” Mines with six other German engineers and 1000 men, but soon fled the country after family bankruptcy
1537
1537
Dormant Period
1537
The Mines Lay Dormant For Fifty Years
1587
1587
New Vein Discovered
1587
A Rich New Vein Was Discovered By Adrian Gilbert. Attempts To Work It Were Initially Unsuccessful Until Engineer Bevis Bulmer Arrived. This Was Named Fayes Mine And Went To A Depth Of 32 Fathoms
1593
1593
Bevis Bulmer
1593
The Last Of The Silver From Fayes Mine Was Extracted. 2 Fine Cups Were Made For Bevis Bulmer
1593
The Gilbert Spoons
1593
Adrian Gilbert Commissions “Edes Spoons”
The Gilbert Spoon – 1580 – Combe Martin Silver Mine
1640
1640
Charles I
1640
Charles 1st Royal Mines Of Combe Martin Became Important Again Managed By Thomas Bushell
1640
English Civil War
1640
The English Civil War, the mines still run by Thomas Bushell as he hides away on Lundy Island
1650
1650
Gunpowder Blasting
1650
Gunpowder Used For Blasting In Mines. Most Mines Worked Down To Water Table And Abandoned
1665
1665
The Great Plague
1665
The Great Plague
1674
1674
Cheap Imports
1674
Bushell Dies Aged 80. Metals Imported From Colonies. Combe Martin Mines Closed For Over A Century