Kelly Mine - South Devon Railway

Dartmoor is best known today for its scenery, walking and wide open skies. The landscape that people see today has been strongly shaped by its industrial past, most of which has been reclaimed by nature. One part that can be seen today is at Kelly Mine, near Lustleigh.

Kelly Mine was one of many opened up to exploit magnetic haematite, a type of iron ore. It proved to be of little worth for the extraction of iron, but invaluable because of its properties in making paints to protect iron and steel. The mine itself, located on a steep hillside overlooking Lustleigh, consisted of several adits going into the hillside, from which the ore was mined and brought out using narrow gauge tramways. It was then processed on site, the products packed into barrels and then taken to Lustleigh station. One of the major products was battleship grey paint, which originated here.

On Thursday 27 March Colin Vosper will give an illustrated talk on Kelly Mine, and the efforts of a small but dedicated band of volunteers who have brought it back from dereliction to one of the finest industrial museums in Devon. You will be able to see exactly what has been achieved over the past twenty years, and get an insight into the workings of the mine and its restoration.

As usual the meeting will be held in the Refreshment Rooms at Buckfastleigh station. Doors open at 7.00pm, and the talk will start at 7.30pm. Entry is free, and the Refreshments Rooms will be serving a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks. The evening will provide a taster for the SDRT Museum’s planned visit to the mine in early April using the red London Bus. Do try to be there – it will be a fascinating evening.