History of Mine Tenement

Timeline

1528
1528

The First German Workers

The First German Workers
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

Dormant Period

1537
The Mines Lay Dormant For Fifty Years

1587
1587

New Vein Discovered

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

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

The Gilbert Spoons

1593
Adrian Gilbert Commissions “Edes Spoons”
The Gilbert Spoon – 1580 – Combe Martin Silver Mine

1640
1640

Charles I

Charles I

1640
Charles 1st Royal Mines Of Combe Martin Became Important Again Managed By Thomas Bushell

1640

English Civil War

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

Gunpowder Blasting

1650
Gunpowder Used For Blasting In Mines. Most Mines Worked Down To Water Table And Abandoned

 

1665
1665

The Great Plague

The Great Plague

1665
The Great Plague

1674
1674

Cheap Imports

Cheap Imports

1674
Bushell Dies Aged 80. Metals Imported From Colonies. Combe Martin Mines Closed For Over A Century