Evening all, this is the first post from me after lurking around on another account for a long time. I guess some of the questions had been asked before and so I'd not had reason to post!

I graduated from CSM last year in mining engineering and being a local lad I've always been interested in the mines around Cornwall. Two mines which I'm particularly interested in are the North Dolcoath (Including Wheal Molesworth), and West Dolcoath mines in the Penponds/Barripper valley, due to these being very local to me.

I was wondering if anyone has come across any literature or maps or plans of these mines whilst looking for other information, I understand these mines may not be of great interest to others but being so close to my house I'm fascinated by them.

I believe there may be some plans at the Cornwall Records Office for both, hopefully I can arrange a visit this week to have a look, should I request a time to go or can I just "rock up".

I'm hoping that Roy Morton finds his way into this thread as I've read some fascinating posts by him, as well as seeing a beautiful photograph showing the lode plans of Pendarves, Wheal Nelson etc, however it doesn't go North enough to show the setts of particular interest to me. If you're reading this Roy, where can one view such fantastic plans? Are they at the CRO or in your own personal collection? If the latter, do you have any lode plans/info on the setts mentioned above?

I've obviously read the Dines entry, as well as the Mines and Miners of Cornwall entry and have the Hamilton Jenkins maps, if anyone know where I can get a little more info on these setts I'd be more than grateful!

Many thanks,

Rob

If you are using the CRO I would recommend that you get in touch prior to your visit and let them know what you want to see.

Be warned, CRO have a really, really frustrating production procedure - they will only let you have three documents at a time and they will only produce them at specified times. This is fine if you know exactly what you want and the documents contain some meat. However I have found myself in the situation where documents have been produced, I tell at a glance that they are not relevant I then sit play minesweeper for an hour or so until the next production period. When I have taken a day off work and burnt twenty five quid in diesel to get there it is a little frustrating. I think I'll stop as I am getting into rant mode.

If these mines were working at anytime from the mid 1830s to around the time of the Great War Mining Journal would be a good source. The Cornwall Studies Library at Redruth have a set. The only problem with MJ is that you will get side tracked. The CSL set used to belong to Hamilton Jenkin and it is quite exciting to be using same volumes that he used to compile his books. The Royal Cornwall Gazette and the West Briton may also be of use they are available on microfiche at the CSL. In contrast to the CRO the CSL is a really user friendly resource.

Anyway, welcome to AN, good luck with your researches and let us all know what you find.

Many thanks for that advice Tamarmole, I wasn't aware of the production times of the CRO so your advice is certainly taken on board. I also hadn't thought about the CSL in Redruth, I recall seeing mention of the mining journal as a citation in some literature I've read on the mines, but wasn't aware where I could access such archives, so thanks for the heads up!

Thanks for the welcome, I know the workings are flooded, they were before this horrible weather, however this is due to an adit collapse. I think something is likely to be done to the adit as consequences of a sudden release of all that water will have devastating effects to the Viaduct in the valley. Perhaps it won't be flooded in the future so I'd like to get some info on it now, nice and early!

I'll be sure to present anything I find here on the forum, I understand there are a lot of members who have a more "armchair" approach to mine exploration and as such may be interested in whatever I'm able to find. I've certainly had benefit from some input from "armchair" explorers so it's only fair they get to see what I can uncover!

Re N Dolcoath etc. Have you tried T.A.Morrison's book Cornwall's Central Mines Volume 2 which has quite good coverage of the area including a chapter on North Dolcoath. Sounds like you are well onto my patch as I have bound stone in my garden ( in situ) for Wheal Nelson/West Stray Park/ W.Condurrow so you are 2 fields away though Molesworth is a bit further off. Kembro

I disagree with Tamarmole's sentiment about the CRO.

You email them for an appointment at the map table and you preorder 5 items in your email. You can get to the catalogue via google and "crocat cornwall". You can find which plans to look for by the catalogue, or Dines. There are more plans in the library than Dines refers to. There are the Michell and Trestrail collections, for instance. It's all in the catalogue. You need to plan your documents....for instance, some of the "bundles" will keep you busy for half an hour and some will be 3 individual sheets. Look at the catalogue and plan what you are going to dig out. Note the times for submitting requests and fit these in with your photography/rummaging. If you are going to attempt to photograph things, take a bloody good camera as otherwise you will have a blurry full image and lots of weeny snippets. It also costs you £5 to get your camera out. If you go to the record office, dig out MRO-R103 which is Consols/United at Gwennap. Arguably the most incredible set of plans in there.

I echo the sentiments about Morrisons books. They are particularly good. I would advise going to the record office and fumbling with the stuff first hand. It's a real journey through time! Some of the Condurrow stuff is a bit excessive.

I'm a regular at the Studies Library and it's a great place and they also have a set of the 1907 6" geology maps which are worth a look. The problem is some muppet has laminated them with gloss laminate which means they are impossible to photograph. They have a set of the Cornwall Archaeological Unit reports out the back which are 622-623 indexed. If the sites had shaft capping operations, the CAU often wrote some pretty interesting reports about them...and also noted what they obliterated.

If you're not familiar with the essential reading material, I'd I'd get yourself a copy of Dines, the Ham Jenks series, "The geology of Truro and Falmouth" memoir (a scanned reissue, not a digitized one). The Morrison books. You need a copy of the ham jenks maps on CD as well, which is essential for a mine explorer.

Ah thanks gents, I'm glad you mentioned the T.A. Morrison series, I have read the section on North Dolcoath and neighbouring setts but could not recall the name of the book, I'll certainly buy my own copy as I don't think I'll be able to rely on the CSM library any more.

It certainly appears as though having a good plan of everything I require from the CRO is the best way to approach the task, from the mention of the CROCAT I've been able to find the references of the plans they have so will certainly be having a look.

Has anyone seen Roy Morton's fascinating lode map plan of the area around Pendarves? Would I be likely to find something like this at the CRO or would that be asking too much haha

Absolutely disagree with the comment re CRO, I have always found them as helpful as any other record office but it certainly does help if you no what you'r looking for in advance. On occassions been able to go through hundreds of documents in a day.

We explored ND on behalf of the then landowner some years ago, surveys and copies of a mine plan from South Crofty archives (but probably a copy of the MRO plan by Jack Trounson) were published in the PCG Journal. Ground conditions in part were horrendous, we beat a hasty retreat at one point & returned a little while later to what appeared to be a totally different mine!

And its probably only about £6 return on the train from Liskeard!

Can probably dig out other refs if you are interested from MJ/CRO etc.

Alasdair,

That's interesting, are you referring to North Dolcoath in Barripper/Penponds valley? It's a little way away from South Crofty and has no connection whatsoever with the "Queen of Cornish Mines" Dolcoath, besides name.

I'd be very interested in the references if you have them, I'm going to try and get to the CRO this week, I've found references for a historic set of plans, however a more modern survey would be fantastic.

Once again, many thanks for everyone's input!

Absolutely disagree with the comment re CRO, I have always found them as helpful as any other record office but it certainly does help if you no what you'r looking for in advance. On occassions been able to go through hundreds of documents in a day.

We explored ND on behalf of the then landowner some years ago, surveys and copies of a mine plan from South Crofty archives (but probably a copy of the MRO plan by Jack Trounson) were published in the PCG Journal. Ground conditions in part were horrendous, we beat a hasty retreat at one point & returned a little while later to what appeared to be a totally different mine!

Yes, it's a copy of R91A and is much better than the scanty sheet original (which is probably as big as a pool table)

PM Sent 🙂
On the subject of photographing laminated sheets, have you tried a circular polarising filter? that can limit and in some cases completely knock out unwanted reflections.

Lots of good info here but I'm afraid my plan, if I remember correctly, does not extend to cover North/West Dolcoath/Wheal Triumph et al.
A fascinating area and the finding of the stash of bronze age axe heads under the 'boulder' (AKHJ) makes for good reading too.

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just converting the drawings into pdf's which has required a wee bit o' work, if you pm me your email adress I can let you have copies.

PM Sent 🙂
On the subject of photographing laminated sheets, have you tried a circular polarising filter? that can limit and in some cases completely knock out unwanted reflections.

Lots of good info here but I'm afraid my plan, if I remember correctly, does not extend to cover North/West Dolcoath/Wheal Triumph et al.
A fascinating area and the finding of the stash of bronze age axe heads under the 'boulder' (AKHJ) makes for good reading too.

Thanks anyway, Roy. That plan you have is magnificent and such a shame it doesn't cover my area. I've never seen such an interesting plan. With regards to the bronze age hoard under the boulder, there are 3 large rocks in a triangle in the valley, all of similar sizes and in a triangle, I should go out with the metal detector! Also found some great artefacts under our own, including a stone age digging stick weight which was quite a find.

Alasdair, have sent you a PM regarding the drawings, Greatly appreciated.