Gawton Mine, Tavistock Hamlets, mined tin, copper and arsenic. Last active in 1926 when copper was precipitated from the run off from the dumps. Ref: Richardson P.H.G. (1991) Mines of Dartmoor & the Taymar Valley after 1913, Devon Books, Tiverton. Its main working was from 1845 to 1887
Today there remains a crooked chimney on the hilltop at the top of the arsenic flue and rock dumps beside the river. Most of the remaining buildings are on the hillside just above the red sand dumps, which are said to contain 124 000 tons of material. The remains of a small arsenic labyrinth is located directly below these dumps. Down towards the river are more overgrown dumps, a set of lime kilns and other buildings. This part of the sett is separated from the main rock dumps down towards the old brickworks chimney by a small steam draining the tailings which contains many pebbles coated with bright blue/green copper mineral precipitates
Some of the buildings are now private residences and the former Count House (Mine captain’s office) has been restored and converted into a holiday cottage.
Frank Booker in The Industrial Archaeology of the Tamar Valley says that Gawton Quay began as a wharf to serve Gawton copper mine. In 1860 Gawton and New Quay quays formed almost a continuous frontage along the river for nearly a quarter of a mile.