Stowe or Stowse, or, as sometimes called, a Possession or Stowse Of Pretence, is a machine which formerly was the only apparatus for drawing up the ore in tubs from the mine, it is constructed of seven pieces of timber, namely, two bearers of flat wood 1-1/2 feet long, called sole-trees; two others about one foot long, called hing-benches, which are laid over the ends of the former, and to which they are pinned at the corners with wooden pins (if they are nailed they are not properly constructed, and the machine is not by custom a possession, nor will it confer one); two upright pieces of wood called stow-blades, about one foot long, which are morticed into the middle of the sole and under-pinned ; they have a nick in the top like an arrow's head, called a stow, and about the middle of them going between and through them both is a piece of wood called a spindle or turntree, by which the earth or mine is drawn out of the pit; I. 5, Pett. Fad. Reg. v. Stowe.
The stowe, as above stated, is called a possession, because by placing two of them "in all men's sight" upon a meer of ground, or in the range of the vein, or in the grove, pit, or place where the miners intend to sink a pit, according to custom, they confer as perfect a possession therein, and as good a r,ght thereto as a deed of conveyance does to a purchaser; /. 11. Add. MS. 6681, p. 927. The stowe, in order to confer the above right, must be constructed strictly according to custom, and no part of it must be wanting; I. 10. Add. MS. 6685, p. 176. Also by the mining articles, No. 39, promulgated by the grand jury at Hassop, on the 14th April and 12th October, 1664, it was ordained: If there be any miner or other person that has any grove or meer of ground in the mines, he or they shall keep the same in lawful possession both stosed and yoked, either bored, collared, or tenard; we mean one pair of stoses and one yoking of timber in all men's sight, or else it shall or may be lawful for anv man to work the same for his best advantage at or after St. Andrew's day next, if they be not found lawfully yoked at or after that day. Add. MS. 6681, p. 358. The founder has, however, the power to place stowes for the takers meers; so also may one miner after another set what number of possessions or stowes he or they shall think fit, as and for taker possessions or meers of ground. Add. MS. 6680, p. 17.
The cross and hole made in the earth keeps possession for three days only, which is often done while the stowes are being constructed. See Crosses. At or before the end of the above three days, the miner must by custom set down his stowes, which preserve his possession for three weeks; //. 12,69.
It is upon the spindle of the stow that the barmaster sets his nicks, (see Nick) when he formally gives the ground to the miner; or the miner is guilty of an offence against the custom which warrants such a proceeding; when the spindle had been nicked three times according to custom, the barmaster has power to remove the stowe, which proceeding in effect ousts the miner from the possession ; I. 27. So, if the mine remains for a certain period unwrought, unless hindered by wind or water, the barmaster may also remove the stowes; I. 32. See Barmaster.
