Moretonhampstead: grid reference SX687808

Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine is situated four miles WSW of North Bovey in the central area of Dartmoor. Dating from around 1796, Vitifer was amalgamated with Birch Tor in the 1820's, becoming New Birch Tor and Vitifer Consols in 1859. The mine worked a large numbers of lodes including Hambly's Lode, North Lode, Wall's (Paul's) Lode, Prideaux's Lode, Lance's Lode and Lean's Lode from Wall's Shaft, Bather's Shaft, Henry's Shaft, Jenkin's Shaft, Guppie's Shaft, Engine Shaft, Dunstan's Shaft and Millman's Shaft. An open cast mine on the eastern side of the valley with several adits. This was possibly the largest and most productive of the Dartmoor tin mines.

The 1856 Post Office Directory reported that: 'Devon Great Tin Croft, consolidated with the East Birch Tor Tin Mine, is in the township and parish of North Bovey, and union of Newton Abbott, Devon, within the bounds of the manor or lordship of the Earl of Devon, and duchy of Cornwall; it is situated 51 miles from the town of Moreton Hampstead. The nearest shipping place for ores and machinery is at Plymouth, 22 miles from the mine, and the nearest railway station is at Newton Abbott, 15 miles from the mine. The East Birch Tor Mine was bought and commenced working in 1853, at a royalty of 1-32nd, to the Earl of Devon. The Devon Great Tin Croft is leased from Messrs. French and John Cole, of North Bovey, at a royalty of 1-15th. The country is granite, and the dip south. The known lodes on the sett are three. The south lode runs east and west, and dips 6 inches in the fathom south; it consists of spar, tin ore, and micaceous iron. The Graham's lode runs east and west, and dips 2 feet in the fathom north; it consists of spar, tin ore, and micaceous iron. The North lode runs east and west, and dips 1 foot in the fathom north; it consists of spar, tin ore, and micaceous iron. The known crosscourses are three in number, consisting of decomposed granite running north and south, dipping west. There have been six shafts sunk. The Etheridges' shaft is sunk 24 fathoms. There are the following levels in this shaft:—The adit level is driven west upwards of 100 fathoms; the 12-fathom level is driven west, 22 fathoms 4 feet; east, 16 fathoms 3 feet; and Graham's lode is driven 28 fathoms 3 feet east. Dix's shaft (which is the edit level) is sunk 23 fathoms. This being an old mine reworked, the other shafts are not at present used. The mine is worked by a waterwheel, three-quarters of a mile from the shaft, connected by iron rods— a bucket lift; the ore is raised by horse-whim. There is a stamping-engine worked by waterpower. The minerals found in this sett include tin ore and micaceous iron. This mine was first opened and worked about 20 years since, under the name of East Birch Tor Mine; these mines are now worked by a Bristol company, under the name of the Devon Great Tin Croft, consolidated with the East Birch Tor mine. The company is on the costbook system, and consists of 2,500 shares. The Captain is Richard Bawden the secretary is W. Fuller Graham, Montrose House, Clifton, Bristol'.

Production records report that between 1846-52 - 40 tons of tin per year and 1852-1913 - 1,283 tons of black tin. In 1906 - 25 tons of 58.8% Iron Ore.