Basset Mines
In October I decided to pay a visit to the Basset Mines. Whilst I have been a regular visitor to Cornwall I have not given the Basset Mines the attention they deserve. Always being drawn further west to the dramatic setting of Botallack and Levant.

My previous and only other visit to the Basset Mines in 1986 when I visited Marriot’s Shaft and also viewed the site from afar in 1989.

Scanned slide images of this visit can be found on this link:
https://www.jhluxton.com/The-35mm-Film-Archive/Mines-of-Cornwall-and-Devon/Basset-Mines-Cornwall/ 

I also recall visiting the Count House pub / restuarant sometime in the 1980s which was in the mine count house – now a private house.

There have certainly been a lot of changes since the “tidying up” by Kerrier Council and regularising access! I note the negative comments about this in Allen Buckley’s book “Wheal Basset – Five Centuries of Mining at Carnkie” which I bought when I was in the area.

As with most sanitised sites the immediate charm has been removed, but it appears that nature appears to be reclaiming what once was tidied up – I noted an overgrown picnic table near Lyle’s shaft and the undergrowth is advancing!

On this visit I returned to Marriot’s but also visited Lyle’s Shaft and West Basset Stamps for the first time.

Not being restricted by film I shot away quite liberally and have uploaded over 130 images at:
https://www.jhluxton.com/Industrial-Archaeology/Mines-of-Devon-Cornwall/Basset-Mines/ 

In the spring when I next return to the area I hope to cover other aspects of the Basset site.

John L

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I think it's very sad that a lot of money was spent a few years ago conserving the surface remains of many of the mines in Cornwall and making them publicly accessible but little further maintenance has then taken place with the result that many of those sites are becoming overgrown again.

Killifreth Engine House, that one with the tall elongated chimney, receives lots of attention because it's on a popular path in Unity Wood but a nearby engine house with a wooden platform inside is overgrown and neglected (or it was 3 years ago).

I'm surprised that with the amount of interest in the area none of the local mining societies appear to have got involved in voluntary work to keep these sites clear.

On the other hand, if you are, then please let us all know.

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