derrickman
15 years ago


Industrial Railway Society, from 1973. Thought I'd post it as a follow-on from past threads on this subject

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/48/Letters%2048.htm 
''the stopes soared beyond the range of our caplamps' - David Bick...... How times change .... oh, I don't know, I've still got a lamp like that.
carnkie
15 years ago
I'm not sure about the bal section as my understanding is bals came into being about the mid to end of the 15th century.

According to Allen Buckley by then the western stannery of Penwith-Kerrier was dominant and lode mines were increasing in mumber and overtaking stream works in importance. Groups of tin bounds, known as 'bals' were being exploited by large groups of miners in operations that were increasingly financed by local gentry and rich merchants. The cost of mining a lode was far higher than streaming alluvium and only the better off could afford it.

There were a number of bals.Trewellard Bal in St. Just, Carnmeal Bal in Breage, Polgooth Bal in St. Ewe, Poldice Bal in Gwennap and of course Carnkie Bal in Illogan to name a few.

The 1737 Manor of Tehidy plan by Doidge shows the Carnkie Bal quite clearly with it's fifteen shafts some of which have been identified in a recent survey.
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.
carnkie
15 years ago
I forgot I put this in the album.

Carnkie Bal 1737

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/photo/CARNKYE-CARNKIE-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-001/ 
The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

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