Fowey Consols Mine Leat · AditNow Community

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lozz
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Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Does anyone have any info on the Fowey Consols mine leat so far as the section goes from after Treffrys Viaduct through to the mine itself, it would have had a reasonable flow as amongst other things it powered the Man Engine on Pidler's Shaft which was 280 fm deep as far as I can ascertain, according to what I have found the waterwheel was 30 ft diam. and 6 ft breast coupled to a large flywheel, I am guessing that it must have run under the road (Penpillick Hill) at some point in order to get to the mine, I am also thinking that maybe the discharges from the machinery operated by the leat would have been fed back down to the Ponts Mill area (obviously at a lower hieght) to perform more work.
There are references to a plan etc in CRO but I am wondering if anyone can give any info as a trip to the CRO is out for the moment.

Lozz.

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JamieC
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Newbie

13 years ago

How far have you traced the leat from luxulyan valley?

lozz
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Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

"JamieC" wrote:
How far have you traced the leat from luxulyan valley?

I havn't traced it at all yet, I was just wondering if anyone knew of the leats course, I have not had chance to visit the viaduct or the Ponts Mill area yet, Fowey Consols was a big set up in it's day but very liitle remains today apart from a couple of engine houses and a few shafts so far as I am aware. I had heard a rumour that the leat passed under the road (Penpillick Hill) and under one of the houses on the mine side of that road.
I suppose I could get a rough idea by following the map contours using Treffrys viaduct as a datum level maybe.
The walls of the bridge that spanned Green Lane to cary the incline plane can still be made out.
On De La Beche's plan (1837) it shows the mine leat flowing round the topside of Austens Engine House.
The above plan is in the photo section of Fowey Consols on this forum as is a section from the tithe map c. 1840.
Lozz.

lozz
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Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

I have just found a poor photocpy which I had of the tithe map covering a larger area around Fowey Consols, this copy covers from just West of Penpillick Hill through to most of the mine sett, the course of the leat can just about be made out, it comes down from the North West and goes under Penpillick Hill near the top of the hill and continues in a South Easterly direction to the North side of Austens Engine House, on the map it cuts through a building just off Green Lane so I am guessing it actually goes under it. So that's a start.

Lozz.

JamieC
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Newbie

13 years ago

From what I can remember the leat leaves the valley NW of Pontsmill and goes below the cottages on the left on Penpillick hill, there's at least one part that goes underground further back in the valley as i've seen people heading into it. Not sure if that's possible further on though. If so I suppose you could follow it.

lozz
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Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

"JamieC" wrote:
From what I can remember the leat leaves the valley NW of Pontsmill and goes below the cottages on the left on Penpillick hill, there's at least one part that goes underground further back in the valley as i've seen people heading into it. Not sure if that's possible further on though. If so I suppose you could follow it.

Thanks for that, I will have another think on this as originally I thought the Fowey Consols mine leat originally came across Treffrys Viaduct, it is now apparent to me that this would not be the case as the leat was at the mine before the viaduct was built, I think the best chance of finding it's full original course would be on the tithe maps, I have photo's of the tithe map showing the Charlestown Leats original course so I would have thought the Fowey Consols leat would be on the tithe map which covers that specific area.

Lozz.

JamieC
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Newbie

13 years ago

Yes, the leat crossing the viaduct is Carmears leat and only runs to the waterwheel powering the winder for the incline. Just park up down at Pontsmill and walk in, there's still a lot to see in there.

lozz
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Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

"JamieC" wrote:
Yes, the leat crossing the viaduct is Carmears leat and only runs to the waterwheel powering the winder for the incline. Just park up down at Pontsmill and walk in, there's still a lot to see in there.

Thanks, I will have to go and have a look sometime.

Lozz.

JamieC
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Newbie

13 years ago

There's a 'You are here' map at the entrance in Pontsmill and the car park by the viaduct, these show the leats. I have a pic of this map but I can't get it to attach to this message.

lozz
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

#10

"JamieC" wrote:
There's a 'You are here' map at the entrance in Pontsmill and the car park by the viaduct, these show the leats. I have a pic of this map but I can't get it to attach to this message.

Yes I have not long seen that somewhere in google images, I think it was based on the copy that "the friends of Luxulyan valley" have on their website somewhere in one of their consultation documents which I found this afternoon on their website.

Lozz.