There is a sad bit of information concerning this mine.

I gather that it was a most interesting trip and set about finding the entrance, in a bit of wasteland between 2 industrial units. The laddered shaft was here:-

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=50.230787&lon=-5.166739&z=18&r=0&src=msl 

There were 2 shafts open, one which was refurbished by Carnon with ladders and one which was open. Sadly, both of these have been recently obliterated by Mr Scrap Yard who has decided to "enlarge his grounds". There is no trace of either of the shafts, which may have been filled, may have had stuff bulldozed down them, who knows.

This brings up an interesting point. There were several reasons to suggest that the ground under United still had a fair old loading of minerals, which is why the Wheal Maid decline was sunk, the path was from opposite the farm at Wheal Maid to right under Whiteworks (Obviously). The Wheal Maid decline is protected under the Cornwall Minerals Plan and having a secondary egress is rather necessary. Since they had a perfectly good one in a perfectly good patch of ground, what has happened is criminal. Plus considering the habitat that has been lost for bats and other workings lost due to Whiteworks being important ventilation in the area.

What has happened is totally illegal and falls foul of all sorts of planning/conservation red-tapes, however perhaps most sadly, this historic and mineralogically interesting site is now permanently buried.

Photograph:

🔗WHITEWORKS-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-004[linkphoto]WHITEWORKS-Mine-Archive-Album-Image-004[/linkphoto][/link]

Well Stuey, you are right there!. I didn't want to go sounding off too much but when you reminded me of the bat population I did a search on my database for bat pictures and came up with this one taken in Whiteworks in 1996.
I believe it's a Lesser Horseshoe Bat, My hand is in the picture purely for scale.

Viz,

🔗Personal-Album-342-Image-148[linkphoto]Personal-Album-342-Image-148[/linkphoto][/link]

Heritage vandals, wildlife vandals, where is it going to stop?
Maybe there needs to be a combined and concerted effort by every mine explorer, to lobby the 'powers that be' and show a united front against this sort of wanton destruction, most of which goes unseen by the public. Out of site, out of mind I guess.
:curse: :curse: :curse:

---

I'm very surprised they got away with the bat situation. As far as I know (going back a few years) they are very closley monitored and it's definately against the law. I agree with the rest of your comments completely.

---

I have just uploaded the current, 3rd.edition of the Bat Workers' Manual into the "general interest" section of the documents library. Please, please, read it.
The matter ought be reported to the Police.

And notify Natural England as a matter of great concern.

I've drafted a rough report, which I will circulate to those who are interested with a view to getting it circulated those who's job it is.

It involves some photo poaching. By the way. All ideas/fine tuning suggestions welcome.

Roy and I have had a chat about this and seeing the photos got me sufficiently cross to write the report I was to lazy to!

Just as an addition to the above, the picture of the site on GE is much better than the FE image and so here is the layout.

🔗Personal-Album-342-Image-149[linkphoto]Personal-Album-342-Image-149[/linkphoto][/link]

The strip of land between the scrappy and the industriual estate was in the hands of Wheal Jane and, as can be seen in this image, was kept seperate from both for access and escape.

---

See pages 11, 12 & 13 of the Manual.

The fact of the matter is, breaking the law is breaking the law. It's all very well slinging some crap down shafts, but here, there are so many bits of red tape that have been not only broken, but obliterated, lots of people should be very excited.

Let's face it, the council don't really give a toss about minority interests, unless you have the religious or race card to play. Thankfully, next in the stakes is the "think of the animals" card. Personally, I think it's rather lucky of the bats to have a hole to go in which we left them, not a right but a privilage. However, since the bats are on my team, I'm quite happy to fight for their cause.

I don't think a massive overkill fuss is in order, but there is a loss here that any old Harry shouldn't be allowed to replicate. Hence why I think a well worded, truthful account is in order.

They will probably bung it in the bin, but perhaps not.

It's a good test of the legislation. If nothing happens, I've got an old asbestos garage that could be slung down a shaft....

Why are the bats lucky. They were perfectly happy before we started destroying their habitat. I find the idea that we are the privilaged ones somewhat onbnoxious. It gives the distinct impression that any animal is lucky we allow them to exist. Mind, we have wiped out a few in the process.

---

Sadly, it comes with being at the top of the food chain as well as being viral.

I'm very much a biologist in my views and although a conservationist, I can't help wondering if bats/whales/etc are not best adapted to a human filled world.

My money is on the seagulls, not us!

Tangent police!

Sadly, it comes with being at the top of the food chain as well as being viral.

I'm very much a biologist in my views and although a conservationist, I can't help wondering if bats/whales/etc are not best adapted to a human filled world.

My money is on the seagulls, not us!

Tangent police!

But are humans best adapted to a human filled world? And how are whales adapted when we slaughter these wonderfull
mammals. I can't really take that point seriosly.

I hope your not a teacher,

---

Sadly, it comes with being at the top of the food chain as well as being viral.

I'm very much a biologist in my views and although a conservationist, I can't help wondering if bats/whales/etc are not best adapted to a human filled world.

My money is on the seagulls, not us!

Tangent police!

But are humans best adapted to a human filled world? And how are whales adapted when we slaughter these wonderfull
mammals. I can't really take that point seriosly.

I hope your not a teacher,

Edit.
Why has being top of the food chain missed out the word intelligence?

---

I hope your not a teacher,

Oh dear... 😉

Back on topic please Gents.

Whiteworks has been buried, whether you are a mineral collector, mine explorer, bat or vegetarian yoghurt weaver. 😉

For the record Carnkie, I'm very interested in the whole human overpopulation vs the environment debate and probably have similar views to yourself. Give it a small snippet of geological time and the human civilisation dependent on oil will be become extinct. The population will then return to more of a sustainable level, without any do-gooders driving it. Like politics planning economics for it's own ends, population control is a non-starter in our democratic society. We do need it, otherwise it's an oil fuelled credit crunch....

Anyway....Whiteworks!

Was the shaft in the Metalliferous Surface Safeguarding Zones list?

Even so... it was an important shaft and pleanty of work had gone into laddering it.

Was the shaft in the Metalliferous Surface Safeguarding Zones list?

Even so... it was an important shaft and pleanty of work had gone into laddering it.

No, it was the emergency egress to the WMD, which is on the list. The access itself is necessary. It would also be difficult and red tape ridden to sink another. I get the impression that Carnon can ladder a shaft without too much snag....it was more the hole and it's position that was important.

I doubt anything will happen and the "grass it" gang on GPC will want the WMD to stay buried and mining to go away forever. It's happened with the devon minerals plan, next up for an eco-driven review is the Cornish one, which so far has remained sensible. I bet we'll see it heavily trimmed come the unified council have a poke with it....

We shall see though......

English Nature (as it was then) did force the reopening of shafts at Wheal Friendship which had been plugged, due to bat presence (which we had reported to them, only one or two bats seen), at very substantial cost to the company then owning the mineral rights. This resulted in quite a bit of press coverage. Of course be careful if you use photos of bats - you do need a licence to take them.

Stuey - sorry don't seem to be able to reply to your email.

Hi Stuey, I think that this may add a little more grist to your mill in that it marks out the highly unusual nature of the mineralisation at WW and its importance as a site of special geological interest. The article dates from 1989. I can send you a copy by email if you wish Stu.

Please note! My address on this article is an old one.
Page 1.
🔗Personal-Album-342-Image-154[linkphoto]Personal-Album-342-Image-154[/linkphoto][/link]

Page 2.
🔗Personal-Album-342-Image-155[linkphoto]Personal-Album-342-Image-155[/linkphoto][/link]

Sample of Wood Tin from Whiteworks.
🔗Personal-Album-342-Image-153[linkphoto]Personal-Album-342-Image-153[/linkphoto][/link]

---

Nice article Roy, What's "Rock Bottom and how long's it been running?"

I've had some good feedback/suggestions, however, they are probably best left offline. The major concerns are the strategic part of the site concerning the WMD, which is a planning issue, as well as the bats.

I'm interesting in how the WHS applies in this area, other than to get emmets buying ice creams (quote PN). I wonder if RIGS applies to consols/united (I don't think so).

We shall see.

Bottom line is that there are too many shafts getting crap down them and not actually that many classic trips. Whiteworks was one of them and the loss of it was not actually authorised.... allegedly. To do nothing will perpetuate this sort of thing.

Anyway... I think several fuses have been lit here :thumbsup: