Author: viewsofcornwall

Botallack has been referred to as the submarine mine, its ruined Cliffside engine houses perch remarkably close to the cliff edge and the tunnels extend under the sea. For this reason Botallack was well known and became almost a tourist attraction for royalty and adventurers. Royalty including Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort in 1846 and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in 1865,were among the famous visitors to go down the mine under the sea. Wilkie Collins the novelist wrote a terrifying account of his descent down into the mine in 1850. He reported that he could hear the roar of the surf above his head.

All miners faced the possibility of being injured or killed in the mine and many were blinded in blasting accident. At Botallack one such miner could not face life begging/hawking or help from the charity known as the parish relief and even though he was totally blind he continued to work underground to support his nine children. The book entitled Cornwall: Its Mines and Miners published in 1855 recounted that “such was his marvellous recollection of every turning and winding of this subterranean temple of human industry, that he became a guide to his fellow-labourers if by any accident their lights were extinguished.”

There was a widespread mine layout above the cliffs with eleven steam engines in 1865 and at this time Botallack employed 500 ‘persons’. Like many other mines in Cornwall the fall in the price of tin caused most of the mine to close in March 1895, although some workings still carried on in the shallow levels. Between 1907 and 1914 Botallack was reworked and arsenic flues and a stack were built on the cliff top. The ruins that are visible today show an arch carrying the flue which passes between the two main sections.

Ding Dong is an old and extensive mining area situated in the heart of the Lands End granite mass about 2 miles south of the St Just to Penzance road. A visit to this mining region is best in clear conditions `as the views are fantastic especially to the south west looking out across Mounts Bay and St Michaels Mount.

The name Ding Dong has led to speculation as to its meaning. One suggestion by Cannon Jennings in his book on the history of Madron, Morvah and Penzance is that name refers to ‘head of the lode’ or the outcrop of tin on the hill. In Madron church there is a ‘Ding Dong Bell’ that was rung to mark the end of the last shift of the miners.

Near the mine ruins can be found the Bronze Age ‘Nine Maidens Stone Circle, the Men-an-Tol and Lanyon Quoit and the Ding Dong mines themselves. These are reported to be the oldest in the West of England. Brown and Acton in their book “Exploring Cornish Mines, Volume 2” say that the mines probably operated in pre-historic time and there is even a legend that Joseph of Arimathea visited the area.

By 1782 sixteen working mines were to be found in the area and the present sett include Ding Dong in the middle, Providence, Tredinneck and Ishmael’s to the east and Wheal Malkin and Wheal Boys to the West.

Ding Dong obtained notoriety during the 18th century because of an infringement lawsuit. A 28 inch cylinder inverted engine designed by Edward Bull was put into Ding Dong in 1796 the problem occurred in as much that Bull had been chief designer for Boulton and Watt. James Watt considered the engine to be an infringement of his ‘condenser patent’.

Richard Trevithick the Cornish inventor, engineer and pioneer of the locomotive was at one time an engineer for Ding Dong mine. When working at the mine he developed a high pressure engine to raise ore and waste from the mine.

The mine had a particular pattern with 22 lodes in the mine that were continually throwing out branches none of the lodes came to the surface and by the time the mine closed it had reached a depth of 138 fathoms from the surface. Production from the mine has been quoted by Dines as 1814-78: 3,475 tons of black tin and in the late 1850s there were 206 men and boys employed. Ding Dong finally stopped working in 1879 although several attempts were subsequently made to reopen as a working venture. Lack of public support has been attributed to the failure to restart the mine.

Hawkes Shaft engine house has the tallest engine house stack in Cornwall From 1826 – 1860 Killifreth produced copper from shallow workings, it was then taken over by a new company who then began to mine for tin. It wasn’t until the 1860’s that Killifreth used steam power unlike many of its neighbours The new company deepened the mine to 100 fm below the County Adit and obtained an excellent yield. but like many Cornish mines the collapse of the price of tin forced the mine to close in 1897. Another contributory factor to Killifreth’s closure was according to Brown and Acton in their book “Exploring Cornish Mines” Vol 2 “the breakage of the bob of the main pumping engine”. At its peak Killifreth never employed more than 281 men and only produced a fraction of the ore that mines in other parts of Cornwall excavated.

For a short time the mine was used as a training ground for the Truro Mining School then in 1911 it reopened when arsenic was produced by the same company that owned the nearby Wheal Busy Mine. It was during this last reworking that the brick built stack was doubled in height to create extra draft for the four boilers serving the new 85 inch cylinder engine. The price of arsenic on the open market was as volatile as that of the price of tin and the new venture failed within a few years. One further attempt to reopen Killifreth in 1927 failed because parts of the engine and the wooden headgear at Hawkes Shaft had been vandalised.

Eventually the plant was broken up and used as scrap during the Second World War, although there is reportedly still plenty of tin underground at Killifreth.

The Great Work group of mines are reported to be very old and very rich. The tin mine was recorded to be in production during the 16th Century, employing about 300.

Great Work mine is only a mile north-east of another prosperous tin mine called Wheal Vor. J. H. Trounson in his book “The Cornish Mineral Industry 1937-1951” makes the observation that: “A well known though very peculiar fact in connexion with the mines of this area is that the riches of Wheal Vor were almost entirely confined to the killas, the lodes becoming very poor in the granite, whereas in Great Work precisely the opposite state of affairs prevailed and lodes that had been exceedingly rich in granite were found to practically valueless in the killas. ”

It was stated by Cornish Mining World Heritage Site Bid at http://www.cornish-mining.org.uk/sites/tregon.htm that: “Great Work was the site, in 1689 of the introduction of blasting to mining by Thomas Epsley” but J. H. Trounson once again in “The Cornish Mineral Industry 1937-1951”, disputes this as he states that: “it was either at Wheal Vor or the neighbouring Godolphin mine that gunpowder was first used for blasting”. Whichever account is right it is certain that it was this area that was responsible for the use of explosives in mines.

The clays of nearby Tregonning Hill were used by the miners of Great Work to repair their furnaces and in 1746 a Mr. Cookworth came to stay with Captain Nancarrow of Great Work and saw the miners using this clay. Cookworth took samples back to Plymouth and the clay was used to make porcelain until a source pf purer clay was discovered near St. Austell.

Great Work has an unusual chimney stack as its upper brickwork is in two stages and like many Cornish mines its fortune depended on the price of tin resulting in closure and then reopening. The last reworking was in 1930 when the engine house which formerly held a 60 in pumping engine was cut down and provided with a flat roof.

Today all that remains of this once great mine are the ruins of the pumping engine house and the stack of Leeds shaft. Theses two remains make a distinctive landmark in the dip between Tregonning and Godolphin hills. The property is now maintained by the National Trust and the area is kept clean and free from fly-tipping.

The two engine houses which form part of the scattered remains of Wheal Trewavas grace the cliffs to make a spectacular sight but caution should be exercised on some of the coastal paths near the site. Anyone fit enough to get to the engine houses is warned not to enter as the houses themselves are in a bad state of repair and are dangerous. The walls on the seaward side of the engine houses are taller to compensate for the slope of the steep cliffs. Near to the houses is evidence of a boiler house and the sockets for the roof truss can be seen in the wall along with traces of white limewash above the roof line. When they were erected most engine houses were limwashed to help protect the lime mortar from being leached out by the wind and rain. A circular flat area beyond the boiler house is one of Cornwall’s best surviving ‘manual capstan plats’ it is remarkable that this plat still exists as it is in a very exposed position and it is regularly used by helicopter pilots from Culdrose for landing practice.

Wheal Trewavas traded for a relatively short time but was by all accounts a successful mine, it was opened in 1834 and a plan of the time shows four copper lodes and one tin lode. The south east copper lode continued out under the sea and a small pumping engine and a steam whim were built on the south lode. Ore was carried to the cliff top by a horse whim the evidence can still be seen today as it is possible to spot where the rock has been cut to enable the ore to be pulled up the incline.

Conflicted accounts are given for the mines demise, one popular story goes that an annual dinner was planned to take place underground strangely enough out under the sea but when the tables were being laid it was noticed that water was dripping onto the food. The meal was abandoned and by all accounts left to the fishes and that was the end of Wheal Trewavas.

Another reason given for the closure of Wheal Trewavas was the fact that the company’s business affairs were not all they should be and there was a suspicion that the dividends were being paid out of bank overdrafts. Whatever story was true or partially true the mine closed in May 1846 after trading for only twelve years. http://www.phdcsm.freeserve.co.uk/rinsey.htm

In direct contrast to its name Wheal Prosper was not a very successful mine and traded for only a short period from 1860 – 1866. Prosper was quite a common name for Cornish mines, Collins in “Observation on the West of England Mining Region.” Gives accounts of six Wheal Prospers but does not include the mine at Rinsey,

Wheal Prosper was built with slate or killas that was quarried from a small quarry close by and granite quoins were added to strengthen the building. A tall and graceful chimney stack makes this a very picturesque building and it has been featured in the television sequel to Poldark.

The engine house is easily accessed, a National Trust car park is sited nearby and a footpath leads directly to Wheal Prosper. This footpath passes a ‘bat castle that has been built over the mouth of Michell’s shaft. The shaft itself is reported to extend 420ft below the surface and the ‘bat castle’ provides not only a safety cover for the shaft but its design allows bats to roost in the underground workings, twilight is the best time to observe the bats comings and goings.

A path near the engine house leads down to the beach known as Rinsey Cove and at low tide the ‘adit portal can be approached via a cave but care should be exercised due to the danger of rising tides and loose rocks.

South Wheal Frances was one of the mines on the Great Flat Lode, a large and rich tin deposit south of Carn Brea. Mines along this lode produced over 90,000 tons of high quality tin concentrate. In contrast to the usual steep nature of the lodes in Cornwall the Great Flat Lode was as its name suggests relatively flat.
Lady Frances Basset, who was the mineral lord for the area, granted the lease for South Wheal Frances in 1834 and the golden period for ore production was the 1850’s but even in the early years of the 20th century several thousand men, women and children worked in the mine which was very different scenario to other Cornish mines of the period.

Impressive buildings at Marriots shaft housed a large compressor and compound engine and between 1896 and 1899 a major refurbishment of the shaft was undertaken with the goal of reaching 6,000 feet. The Boiler House provided steam for the whole site and contained six Lancashire boilers side by side. Between 1856 and 1871 South Wheal Frances experienced three boiler explosions, with one fatality, a not uncommon occurrence for Cornish mines. One building at the complex was known as ‘The Miners’ Dry’ it was not completed until 1908 but it was considered to be the finest ‘dry’ in Cornwall . At the end of a shift the miners came to this building and changed out of their working clothes and these outfits could then be dried on large steam pipes in the building.

Tramways took ore crushed to the crushing stamps and dressing floors to Carnkie where there are still ruins of stamps-engine houses on both sides of the village. South Wheal Frances, West Wheal Basset its neighbour to the north and Wheal Basset to the east had many boundary disputes but two successful mergers bought the three mines together in 1896 to form Basset Mines Limited.

Like many other Cornish mines and despite its good start to the century the falling price of tin forced the closure of the Basset Mine company in December 1918. Many miners returning from the Great War found themselves out of work and with little prospect of finding employment.

Today both cyclists and walkers alike can enjoy the Great Flat Lode Trail This trail circles Carn Brea hill and Carnkie, passing through Brea village, comes close to Troon in the west and Redruth to the east and contains a high concentration of historic mine buildings. It is dominated at its centre by the Basset monument on the top of Carn Brea. Plaques are provided giving information about the old mines and the activities of the time and there are even maps along the route to ensure no one gets lost.

Mining has taken place at Geevor for more than three hundred years and over the years the mine has had various names. Like many other Cornish mines Geevor has enjoyed times of success and times when operations have been suspended. After one such closure the mine reopened under the name of North Levant in 1851. Explorations were carried out seawards from Goldsworthys Shaft and in April 1867 during work on an inland section miners accidentally broke through into a flooded mine working, five workers including a 13 year old were killed.

Between this time and 1891 the mine expanded to include Wheal Bal and Wheal Carne and yet once again in 1891 mining operations came to a halt. Between 1892 and 1904 mining was continued on and off on a small scale until in 1905 the West Australian Gold Field Company Ltd. acquired the site which they renamed in 1911 brining together various mines under the name of Geevor Tin Mines Ltd. Hopeful of finding new ore lodes, in 1919 this company, sunk a new shaft called Victory near to the existing mill.

Barton in ‘The History of Tin Mining and Smelting in Cornwall” recounts that in 1918 Geevor milled 24,956 tons and employed 205 underground and 98 surface workers.

By the end of the 1950s the mine yield dropped and for the next 30 years Geevor Tin Mines explored the surrounding area to try and find new reserves. So called submarine extensions gave access to lodes not previously accessible but in 1985 the price of tin plummeted to a third of its value and in 1986 Geevor shut down. The mine was maintained on a temporary basis while a six year struggle ensued to try and get it reopened unfortunately this struggle was unsuccessful and hopes stopped altogether in 1991 when the pumps were finally turned off.

In 1992 Geevor Tin site was acquired by Cornwall County Council and with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund in Spring 1993 the site was opened to the public as a museum. The Trevethick Trust continued to run the site until 2001 when Pendeen Community Heritage (PCH) a registered charity was awarded the contract for the management of Geevor. Today Geevor is the largest preserved tin mining site in Europe, and one of the largest protected industrial heritage sites in the UK.
The extract below is taken from the official website for Geevor and gives details about the guided tours and various attractions now available at the site. Two members of the Views of Cornwall Team went on the tour and found it a fascinating and educational experience. The tea shop/restaurant on the site also served excellent pasties.

“Geevor Tin Mine, the last working mine in West Penwith and now a mining museum, provides you with a unique opportunity to experience the history of this traditional Cornish industry. Although mining has ceased, Geevor has survived, and is now the largest preserved mine site in the UK, extending a mile inland from the breath-taking West Penwith coast in an area rich with natural beauty and historic interest.

A rediscovered ‘adit’ gives underground access to ‘Wheal Mexico’, a part of Geevor worked about two hundred years ago. The mine offices now house a museum telling the story of Geevor, a video film explains the method of mining the mineral rich rock and the processes of crushing and washing the ore to recover the tin-bearing cassiterite. Walking through the narrow tunnels and shafts reminds visitors of the hardships suffered in times past.

Expert guides, an under-ground tour, displays of original mining machinery and a fascinating museum bring the past to life. The whole of the site is served by a network of pathways giving access to superb cliff-top scenery and the nearby Levant Mine, recently restored with working steam beam-engine, the oldest to be seen in Cornwall.”
http://www.geevor.com/aboutus/heritage/Heritage%20Center%20index.htm

 

Mining in this area has been written about as far back as 1720 and as suggested by their names both mines were owned by the Basset family the very influential landowners whose seat was at Tehidy.
Rivalry and boundary disputes existed between Wheal Basset, West Wheal Basset and South Wheal Francis but in 1896 the three mines merged to form the Basset Mines Ltd.

In his book “Mining in Cornwall” Vol. One. by J Trounson describes the stamps at the Basset Mine in the following way: “The rotative beam engine which drove these stamps was a very unusual one consisting of two engines joined together to make a double cylinder engine with cranks arranged at 90 degrees to one another thus making for easy starting as well as being a very powerful unit.”. Kenneth Brown and Bob Acton in their book “Exploring Cornish Mines” reports that this rotary beam engine eventually drove 96 heads of stamps.

The Basset mines were closed, due to a slump in the price of tin in December 1918 and miners returning from the Great War found themselves out of work. It is possible to see a date stone marked “AD 1854” in the granite ashlar bob wall at West Wheal Basset and today the old Basset Count House has been transformed into a restaurant.

Like South Wheal Frances, Wheal Basset and West Wheal Basset are part of the Great Flat Lode Trail for cyclists and walkers to explore. This trail circles Carn Brea hill and Carnkie, passing through Brea village, comes close to Troon in the west and Redruth to the east and contains a high concentration of historic mine buildings. It is dominated at its centre by the Basset monument on the top of Carn Brea. Plaques are provided giving information about the old mines and the activities of the time and there are even maps along the route to ensure no one gets lost.

Formed a few years after local rivals Redruth in 1878, Camborne have had an impressive season, gaining promotion back to South West Division Two. The clubs colours are cherry and white hence the clubs nickname ‘The Cherries’. As with other Cornish teams including Redruth the team originally consisted of mostly local miners. The majority worked at the local Dolcoath mine which at the time was the deepest mine in Britain at 1006 metres. The club motto – “An Gwary Ha Tra Nathen” is Cornish for “The Game And Nothing Else”.

The first game was played in the late 1870’s against Penzance & Newlyn in front of some 600 spectators. During the early times, one of Camborne’s best years was in 1909 when they were the top Cornish club and the following year no other Cornish club managed to score a try against the club.

In the 1920’s the club was on a massive high, before and after the game the teams would get dressed in hotels in the town and walk to the game behind the towns band. This produced a brilliant atmosphere and in 1924 around 19,000 supporters watched the game between Cornwall and the touring New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ team. Local derbies and other important matches drew crowds in excess of 5,000 regularly.

In the following decades the club did not manage to be as successful. One of the team’s players John Collins was picked to play full back for England in 1952. It was not until the late 1970’s that the club managed to stage its revival. Camborne then managed to win the Cornish league and cup on numerous occasions during the 1970’s and 1980’s. One of the teams most well known players Andy Reed joined the club in 1987 and went on to play for Bath RFC, Scotland and even represented the British Lions.

When the National Leagues were formed in 1987, Camborne were placed by the RFU as the highest Cornish team in the then called National Division 4 South. This placed the team in the top 50 teams in the country and they managed to stay in the league until 1995/96. After this relegation the club rapidly descended through the leagues until they ended up in Western Counties West in 2002. They managed to gain promotion from the league this year and hopefully this will kick start their rise back into the higher divisions.