It is very unlikely that the headframe will ever be used again.

The only likely furture use for the shaft is ventilation and a massive climbing frame for the local ferals.....

Just what we need more heritage sites :guns:

Fixed for you.

It's one of the minor mercies of the offshore oil business, which is where I spend most of my time these days, that no-one is suggesting preserving an offshore platform as a "Heritage site".

I've had an occasional twinge seeing platforms like Dunelm which I first knew as state-of-the-art installations, now deteriorated to rusting hulks in their last stages, limping along an a "best use of existing resources" basis until some failure of some ageing component or corroded structural member means they are abandoned. But industry is like that.

Mining isn't pretty. It's about crushing rock for money. I'd be sorry to see such an iconic sight lost, but I'd be much sorrier to think there were no more Cornish miners drinking their "bargain" in the Plume of Feathers or the Radjel, or ever would be again. I'd also be much sorrier to see NCK headframe as a derelict, rotting wreck than gone altogether to make room for current working.

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Anyone know why the word "pockets" is painted on the headgear in yellow? Doesn't look like Graffiti.

Do they mean check your pockets before descending?

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have you seen the strange little men painted on the headframe!

Hello to all the familiar names that I see - it has been a day or two since the excitement of the collapse but I must thank you all for the participation and enthusiasm that you all portrayed during our works their!

Things have moved on rapidly following Christmas and I have been lucky to remain involved with the local mining history! My team stabilised the shaft cap at chapples pumping house with a new reinforced slab cast in-situ, founded on a more solid foundation.

We also submitted a tender against some of the most competitive and nationally recognised contractors in the UK for the South Crofty Heritage Works and have been successful in obtaining thanks to the hard work done by my colleagues who I must thank!

The challenge now rest with me and my team to safely and efficiently deliver the restoration of the Chapples pumping and WHIM structures as well as the NCK headframe.

I will try and post weekly updates and answer any queries or questions but must stress that I have other commitments that may have to take priority!

I will not and cannot provide any details that may be sensitive or cause any conflict between CORMAC (principal contractor), WUM (owners & occupiers) or Cornwall Council/CDC (client) - so please don't ask!

I am content with the fact that I am a Camborne man able to positively influence the preservation of a structure as locally iconic as the Carn Brea Monument and hope to do it justice for the many future generations that will enjoy it's industrial beauty upon the skyline - I must say awesome photograph Mr Morton.

I will post progression pictures where I can but for anyone local it can be easily seen for miles around. The challenge is who can post a picture of the headframe from the furthest distance???? I seem not to be able to embed pictures in the post so will upload into my profile (hopefully!!!)



:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

OK CORMAC Man, seeing as you have 'stuck your head above the parapet' now 😉
heres a starter for 10, what metalwork is likely to be removed from the NCK headgear? (would this fall under sensitive info?) or too early to say? the job done on Robinsons was a bit controversial on here to say the least...

Reading local paper they suggest the NCK Headgear is to be restored and everything else will be demolished.
Is that really true? Are all the other historic building to go ?
- I will try and check the planning applications but I notice that tincroft is being restored or made safe rather than being flattened.

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the blacksmiths shop,the geny house and the power incomer house are all listed buildings so they should be safe but a wrong turn with a swing shovel........................

Hi Somersetminer and thanks for the question - I think?! I like to provide definitive answers where possible however at present I cannot. 😞

We are currently in the process of repairing / replacing defective structural elements albeit when you compare the overall condition of NCK's Headframe against what was discovered at Robinsons it is noticeably better (more than likely helped by the abundance of rope grease that is baked on the steel around the structure!).

Bearing in mind the comment made by Agricola and the fact that the structure is not listed we have to maintain a practical approach when considering removal of certain elements that are very unlikely to be required in the future.

This said every stakeholder or interested party involved with the project wants to make sure that the history and character is preserved.

Most of the ancillary elements that were once an integral requirement to its operation are now redundant and have to be removed to facilitate the application of the corrosion protection system. The central access stairway will be refurbished but the older emergency walkways have seen better days and are no longer required.

But reading between the lines I know what is being alluded to and the reality is the lifting gantry is not required structurally and is a significant factor when crunching the numbers due to its shape and height. To have designed the scaffold to encapsulate it would be cost prohibitive and timely to implement.

The positive news is that the condition is significantly better than what was first anticipated which will help with the cost of restoration albeit other factors will undoubtedly have an impact on the overall out-turn value which will be carefully assessed prior to any definitive decision. Another positive influence is that most stakeholders want to ensure the section returns to its current location.

Whatever happens we shall be removing the section within the next couple of weeks to allow for the installation of the roof system above the sheave wheels. I will provide an update following any decision made.

Best regards

so is the lifting gantry going to be refitted? after all thats what makes it such a iconic landmark with out it its just another headframe

Hi Somersetminer and thanks for the question - I think?! I like to provide definitive answers where possible however at present I cannot. 😞

We are currently in the process of repairing / replacing defective structural elements albeit when you compare the overall condition of NCK's Headframe against what was discovered at Robinsons it is noticeably better (more than likely helped by the abundance of rope grease that is baked on the steel around the structure!).

thanks for that, the main thing is having the contractors presence on here to clarify points like this, realistically I know you cant preserve every last detail on the headgear and still carry out the preservation work, can see it from the perspective of the guys doing the job as well, done enough shot blasting & painting in my time...you've got quite a job on there altogether will be good to see it when its complete :thumbup:

I was shocked when I saw the amount of scaffold.

Anyone would think that some of the "stakeholders" had a private interest in the scaffolding firm!

I think it's an exceedingly important structure which deserves to be restored properly. Keeping it's outline is important and not changing it's appearance too much is also important. I'm aware that the Saab driving, apple mac using, brown shoes-ed, designer type is likely to want to celebrate the design in it's purest form and strip it all back to a sculpture like representation.....

Well, I suppose they've got to do what is necessary in order for Midas to get their link road. ££££££££££.

i was told how much the scaffolding cost think it was in the region of £15000

I'm aware that the Saab driving, apple mac using, brown shoes-ed, designer type is likely to want to celebrate the design in it's purest form and strip it all back to a sculpture like representation.....

wouldnt worry too much about that Stuey, doubt theres enough money in the job to get one of those involved...

You're missing a zero there Scooptram. I've got to say fair play to the Sedgeman's, they need something like that, they got taken for a mint by ROK's downfall.

:oops: must be old age knocker. hope they leave the skip roads and the camel backs in place unlike over the road :curse:

Hi Somersetminer and thanks for the question - I think?! I like to provide definitive answers where possible however at present I cannot. 😞

We are currently in the process of repairing / replacing defective structural elements albeit when you compare the overall condition of NCK's Headframe against what was discovered at Robinsons it is noticeably better (more than likely helped by the abundance of rope grease that is baked on the steel around the structure!).

I was told the lifting frame is coming off along with the sheave wheels,a nd they will be restored down on the ground. Meanwhile the top deck is to be re plated and when complete, it will all be going back. 🙂

thanks for that, the main thing is having the contractors presence on here to clarify points like this, realistically I know you cant preserve every last detail on the headgear and still carry out the preservation work, can see it from the perspective of the guys doing the job as well, done enough shot blasting & painting in my time...you've got quite a job on there altogether will be good to see it when its complete :thumbup:

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Here's a picture of how it looked on Wednesday 3rd April

🔗Personal-Album-342-Image-85543[linkphoto]Personal-Album-342-Image-85543[/linkphoto][/link]

And it still isn't complete. Once the scaffolding is finished, the whole thing will be clad with sheeting to contain the grit blasting operations.
Should look like a mega spinnaker. Here's hopimg the wind doesn't get up 😮

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You're missing a zero there Scooptram. I've got to say fair play to the Sedgeman's, they need something like that, they got taken for a mint by ROK's downfall.

That's a serious amount of scaffolding for £15,000, if true...

In have to agree with those who have already posted that the gantry is a crucial part of what makes it distinctively NCK. It probably doesn't look much different to the Geevor one to the passing eye but to the informed observer, the two are quite different.

I'd also have to agree that removing the functional structures makes the difference between something being meaningfully preserved, and what the steam engine people refer to as "stuffed and mounted".

I don't understand the current obsession with transport infrastructure. Cornwall seems to me, to have more infrastructure and and less actual industry than at any time in living memory.

I hope that having a pair of brown Clarks' Active Airs doesn't disqualify me, but my feeling would be that this is the only actual option and all that can be done is to wish it well and hope that enough is preserved so that the structure remains recognisably NCK

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Digressing slightly, I've been on Baku these past few months. The powers-that-be here have been spending their oil and gas revenues turning the place into what is described as "the Dubai of the Caspian".

Interesting to compare the adoption of the humble oil derrick as the local symbol, with what is being done in Cornwall

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