North Molton: grid reference SS738328

Notable minerals: Chalcopyrite.

Known as Bampfylde and Poltimore, this very ancient mine is situated about four miles northeast of South Molton in the valley of the River Mole, just under half a mile north of the hamlet of Heasley Mill. The mine was active in the 13th Century with records dating from 1250. The lode structure was first mentioned in 1656 with North Lode, Poltimore Lode and South Lode reported. Called North Molton Copper Mine or Westwood Mine in the 18th century, the lodes were worked from a number of shafts including No.4 Shaft, No.3 Shaft and Hand's Shaft.

Between 1696 and 1698 over 4,500 tons of high grade (30% - 40%) copper ore was raised, with further reports stating that between 1724 and 1773 roughly 45 tons of ore was sold every month. Closed by about 1778. The mine reopened for a short time in about 1808 and again in the 1840s. It's planned to work gold under the name of Prince Albert Mine, with a reopening date of 1847. Operations did not commence however until 1852 as Poltimore Copper and Gold Mining Co. Gold working had failed by 1855. After lying idle the mine reopened in 1856 and during the period 1856 to 1863 raised 1,808 tons of ore and 2,477 tons of 15% - 25% copper ore between 1865 ad 1869. The mine closed for good in 1888.

The 1856 Post Office Directory rports that: 'Poltimore Mine is in the township and parish of North Molton, union of South Molton, Devon; it is situated 6 miles from the town of South Molton. The nearest shipping place for ores and machinery and nearest railway station is at Barnstaple, 12 miles from the mine, and 184 from London. The mine is held under a lease for 21 years, from 1852, at a royalty of 1-15th and £100 per year sleeping rent to the Lord of the manor, granted by Lord Poltimore, of Poltimore and North Molton. The country is hilly, and the dip west. The cleavage of the clayslate dips west and south. The nearest granite is at Lynmouth, 12 miles. The slides dip east, west, and south. The known lodes on the sett are Poltimore and Bampfylde. The Poltimore Lode runs east and west, and dips south about 3 feet in the fathom; it consists of micaceous, iron, and quartz, and grey sulphate of copper. The Bampfylde Lode runs east and west, and dips south about 2 feet in the fathom; it consists of quartz and grey sulphate of copper. The known crosscourses are four, clayslate. There have been five shafts sunk. The No. 1 shaft is sunk 60 fathoms. There are the following levels in this shaft:- The 20-fathom level is driven 120 fathoms; the 30-fathom level is driven 130 fathoms; the 40-fathom level is driven 70 fathoms; the 60-fathom level is driven 10 fathoms south. The No. 2 shaft is sunk 60 fathoms. There is the following level in this shaft:- The 20-fathom level is driven 20 fathoms. The No. 3 shaft is sunk 70 fathoms. There are the following levels in this shaft: The 20-fathom level is driven 30 fathoms; the 30-fathom level is driven 50 fathoms. The No. 4 shaft is sunk 20 fathoms. There is the following level in this shaft:- The 20-fathom level is driven 20 fathoms. The No. 5 shaft is sunk 10 fathoms. The mine is worked by water-power. The wheel is 50 feet in diameter, 5 feet breast in water, and 5 feet stroke. The mine is drained by a 16-inch bucket, 12-inch plunger, and 101-inch bucket. The minerals found in this sett include grey sulphate of copper and yellow sulphate. This mine was first opened in 1852, and was worked by Mr. William Washington Mansell, under the name of the Poltimore Mine. It was afterwards worked by Charles Henage, Esq., under the name of Poltimore Gold Mine. It is now worked for copper. The produce in 1852 was 15 tons of ore; and in 1855, 8 tons of ore. The company is on the costbook system, and consists of 18,500 shares of £1 each, all paid up, representing a capital of £18,500. The agent is Edwin Maunder, of Heasley Mill, North Molton, Devon; the Purser is H. C. Croft, Esq., of London; the Captain is Matthew Floyd. The London offices are 21 King street, St. James'.

Official Production records report that as Bampfylde Mine, between 1856 and 1880 - 5,124 tons of 14.5% copper ore was produced along with 86 tons of manganese ore in 1873 and 1875. Iron ore was also present with 7,118 tons of ore raised in the periods 1873-75 and 1879-82.
As Poltimore, the mine produced 13 tons of copper ore in 1854.