A TIN ingot which originated from the Tamar Works at Weir Quay, Bere Alston around 1884 has returned home to the village after being retrieved from the seabed.

The ingot, which was made from tin mined in the area, was marked 'Tamar Works, Bere Alston' and 'Tamar Tin Smelting Company' and was one of two included in Robin Fenner's auction on Monday. The second was smelted at Truro, and both tipped the scales at 56lbs.

Bere Alston resident Peter Churcher was successful in obtaining the two ingots for a total of £1,000. He said the Bere Alston ingot had been aboard the SS Cheerful which had sunk in 1885 en route from Plymouth to Falmouth and had been retrieved after a trawl of the area.

'It could have been the last bit of tin mined in the area,' Peter said. 'According to local maps the works were already disused in 1884.'

He said he would welcome any information on the works to confirm dates and learn more about the history of the ingot, the local industry and the shipwreck of the SS Cheerful.

Peter has a strong interest in local history and would like to make his Victoria Bookshop in Fore Street, Bere Alston — which opens this Saturday (December 1) — a local history museum.

The two ingots will be on display there and he said he was willing to loan them for a short time to anyone who was having a special presentation — including Tavistock Museum, which was also interested in the local ingot at the auction.

Should Peter leave the area, he stressed he would leave the local ingot behind in Bere Alston or Weir Quay, as that was where it belonged.

Anyone with any information which might add to the history of the ingot can contact Peter on 01822 841638 or e-mail him on [email protected]">[email protected].