AN illustrated talk on the last tinners of Dartmoor by a well known West Devon historian revealed the world of tin mining on the moor in the early 20th century.

Dr Tom Greeves brought the era to life at The Wharf in Tavistock through contemporary photographs of men and machinery (right) and anecdotes based on conversations with former miners and their families.

Dr Greeves has explored Dartmoor for more than 40 years and has written and lectured extensively about its archaeology and history of all periods.

He was trained as a prehistorian at Edinburgh University and his PhD at Exeter University was on the early modern Devon tin industry.

From 1990 he has practised independently as a cultural environmentalist. Since 1998 he has been chairman of The Dartmoor Society, an action group working as 'an independent voice for those who find Dartmoor a source of livelihood or inspiration'.

Dartmoor is noted for the good survival of prehistoric remains, but also contains remarkable tin working, stonecutting and even military landscapes.

He has written about Dartmoor extensively in books and articles since 1969. His latest book Dartmoor's Earliest Photographs — Landscape and Place 1860-1880 is due to be published in March.

In June 2015 Dr Greeves will be inaugurated as president of the Devonshire Association. He is currently organising an international conference celebrating the tinworking landscape of Dartmoor, to be held in Tavistock from May 6 to 11, 2016.

l The next talk in the series of lunchtime talks at The Wharf is on Monday, January 26 at 11am. Professor Peter Brinsden will give his talk entitled 'Admiral Nelson: Hero and Hypochondriac?'