Is there an adit at the bottom of my garden?

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Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

Having recently moved in to the Camborne area, it seems that the field next to my house may have an adit opening-out in it. Peering through the scrub it looks like there are signs of water-scouring in the soil at the base of a substantial stone wall.

I'd be interested to know if this is correct, and which mine it may be connected-to. Does anyone have to hand a map of the adits in the Camborne area, or a link to an online resource, or a suggestion for somewhere to visit for research when I get back to the UK in couple of weeks?

Thanks in advance.

Yorkie.

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BertyBasset
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Not specifically mines, but I find this particularly useful if I want to see the lie of the land with moderneties stripped.

http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch-england-and-wales/

Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

Thanks, Berty; that's a site I use quite frequently.

Tamarmole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Try the Hamilton Jenkin maps which are available as a free download from the Carbis Bay Crew's website.

Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

"Tamarmole" wrote:
Try the Hamilton Jenkin maps which are available as a free download from the Carbis Bay Crew's website.

Cheers for that, Tamarmole. Unfortunately, bandwidth restrictions mean that I can't download the files until I get home...

Edited to add: it appears that it's connected with West Stray Park.

Tony Blair
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Go to County Record Office at Truro. Ask them to see MRO-R76 which is the plan for West Stray Park. Then compare that with your Hamilton Jenkin map and then compare everything with a modern map. Job done.

Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

Thanks, Tony.

Given that this assumed adit emerges 20m away from what appears on early mapping to be the site of West Stray Park shaft, I should be easy to eliminate other possibilities.

Tony Blair
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

Go to www.flashearth.com

Put the "+" on your adit.

Select "permanent link"

This will change the www.flashearth.com bit to something like

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=50.229081&lon=-5.157316&z=19.9&r=354&src=msl

Post it here and some people may discuss it further.

Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

Here we go...

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=50.205902&lon=-5.298534&z=19.5&r=0&src=msa

Morlock
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#10

There's another interesting feature at.

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=50.206634&lon=-5.299558&z=19&r=0&src=msa

Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#11

Possibly the remains of a spoil-heap, as is the ground to the SE of my place.
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101439242

Tony Blair
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#12

It looks like that big lump is the remains of West Stray Park engine shaft. There are 2 lodes. Dolcoath Main (north lode) and South Lode (at greater depth).

Features on the OS map would suggest that the workings are more extensive than on the plan sheets. I don't think any adits come to the surface in the area relating to WSP. Engine shaft does have 2 shallow levels and deep adit (36F).

If the shaft is open, I'd be interested in going down it on a rope. HOWEVER, I doubt any of these are open.

Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#13

The mining survey that was done as part of the house purchase does show a lode running as per the general alignment in the area under the SE corner of my plot, confirmed by coring.

Streetview screen-grab facing SSE in Killivose Road. 'Adit' emerges just beyond the block wall half-right (with Laurel and Leylandii to the right), scrub beyond is the 'spoil-heap' depicted on the earlier map opposite surface building and 'Engine House'.
🔗100796[linkphoto]100796[/linkphoto][/link]

Tony Blair
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#14

If you've had a search done, their appraisal is backed up by insurance which rises dramatically if they get it wrong. The document should be the most accurate composite of the sum of available plans, as well as an appraisal of the various nearby features. I'm assuming the drilling investigation failed to find anything (otherwise you'd also be quoting an engineers report).

The symons map (composite mining map) of the area shows a shallow adit there. Perhaps it was for dressing floors. But it could also be to drain an adjacent structure.

Have a dig at it and if you get anything which looks like a tunnel, someone will come and go up it.

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#15

The only 'true' adit, that is, a drainage level emanating from a mine, that I have encountered on such flat ground is of the cut and cover type. This is usually done by extending a rock face portal by trenching and stone arching so that spoil could be dumped on top or buildings erected.
Obviously, this relates in no way to actual mining below.

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Tony Blair
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#16

I've seen some very shallow levels coming from the tops of shafts, as well as some very shallow adits from pumping shafts. Why on earth they bothered to drive them....perhaps they were trials on lodes, perhaps they were pre-existing levels which pre-dated the pumping shafts....unless it's in a diary somewhere, it's highly unlikely we will ever know.

Labour was cheap back then, so I suppose you could get people to do all manner of odd things.

royfellows
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#17

"Tony Blair" wrote:

you could get people to do all manner of odd things.

Nothings changed!
:lol:

My avatar is a poor likeness.

Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#18

Tony, everyone seems happy with the surveys, and this 'adit' doesn't impinge on my property at all. It only came to light as I was attempting to get to the overgrowth at the top end of my plot, and the scouring and substantial stone wall came to light. I'll have a closer look on my return to the UK later in the month.

Roy, the ground has a perceptable slope, from left to right as you look at the photo posted above. The building to the left of the lane with the stone-faced ground floor stands on the spot which is occupied by a building on the 1888 map. The 'adit' if indeed it is such, seems to be under a spoil-heap.

VMT for your input, BTW.

Yorkie.

Tony Blair
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

10 years ago

#19

I'd be keen on having a look when you're down. You never know what anything is until you really look at it/dig it up, unless the plans are particularly good, which many are not.

Yorkie370
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

10 years ago

#20

"Tony Blair" wrote:
I'd be keen on having a look when you're down. You never know what anything is until you really look at it/dig it up, unless the plans are particularly good, which many are not.

It'll be late in the month before I get a look, as I'm currently sitting between Lerwick and Stavanger...