In the beginning of the nineteenth century the valley of the Kennell was firmly established as one of the principal industrial areas of Cornwall. The remains of this industry seem to me to slightly underplayed these days. It is probably one of the better preserved sites although somewhat complicated. A quote from Hitchens and Drew (1824).

“On the south borders of this manor is a fine stream of water called Kennall River. It rises in the parish of Wendron, and in running on to Kennall turns a number of grist mills, and a hammer mill. At Kennall it works an extensive paper manufactory. Farther on in Kennall Wood it turns six water wheels, some very large, and works an hydraulic machine for manufacturing gunpowder. To work this machinery the river falls 84 feet perpendicularly, and is constantly turning runners upwards of 22 tons weight on gunpowder. The river afterwards passes on to Ponsanooth, where it turns a number of grist mills, three fulling mills, spinning jennies, carding machines, and works a large paper manufactory. At Wheal Magdelen Mine it works a large water engine and mill; and at Perran Wharf, where it falls into the tide, it turns two grist mills, a machine for lifting water, a saw mill, a large hammer mill, a boring mill, and some turning lathes. This river from its source to its union with the sea runs about five miles and a half, in which short distance it turns thirty-nine water wheels all in active and full employ. It may be doubted, if within the same short distance another such stream can be found in England".

I have to admit to being amazed that so much could be accomplished with so little (but what do I know?)

Anyway the point is is the last statement correct.. It would be interesting to here of other examples of this from those who know more about this than me,

The Kennell river now.
🔗Kennall-Vale-Gunpowder-Factory-User-Album-Image-37165[linkphoto]Kennall-Vale-Gunpowder-Factory-User-Album-Image-37165[/linkphoto][/link]

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There are some very interesting books on it. My library is elsewhere, but there is a good UK book (from the 70's) called "Small Scale Water Power". Very very interesting, the maths is simple and I have no idea why water power is not being pursued. It is more of a solution than wind or wave and whole rivers were diverted and ran over cascades of wheels.

Pelton Turbines made appearances here and there and it's a fascinating topic.

Only today, I was talking to my mother who had been to an auction sale where there was a photo album from the 30's where some chap had been around to a lot of waterwheel sites and photographed them. I gather the set went for £40. Hopefully the CRO got it, as it sounds very interesting indeed.

The correct spelling is Kennall isn't it, not Kennell?

There is some interesting information on the site in Bryan Earl's book 'Cornish Explosives' (1978) for those who are interested. The Historic Environment Section (formerly Cornwall Archaeological Unit) of Cornwall Council also have a comprehensive entry on their database for this site.

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Quite correct CP, it should be Kennall.

Also correct regarding the Cornwall Archaeological Unit. John R.Smith was commissioned in 1986 to do a report on the site for the Cornwall Trust for Nature Conservation (as it was then). Well worth a read if you have an interest in the site.

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I know about the report, thanks. I used to work with John Smith and I have entered literally hundreds of records into the HER. It's a great and underused resource.

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Had a lecture on this in the 1980's as part of a HNC chemistry course which covered explosives - we learnt the importance of siting the various buildings at kennall vale - how fires were banned anywhere near to the powder mills and the use of water power instead of steam for the same reason.
Back then we had to make black powder granules in the labs using similar techniques and formulations as they used in the 19th Century. We were even allowed to ignite small amounts in the open air. Nowdays I suspect things are different.

Will also ask the wife, who works for the Cornwall wildlife trust. They may have some publications as well.

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Thirty nine wheels on one river?
You don't have to trawl the country to beat that!
The Red River valley had at least three fold that amount, I'm surprised you didn't know that Carnkie, it's right on your doorstep.

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Regarding chemistry, I did pure chem bsc in 97 and it had no such fun.

I've taught everything from Y7 to college level and interesting demos aren't usually done anymore, apart from induction days. Staff aren't trained themselves and a lot of the time would be better spent actually facilitating learning rather than "messing about". Practical science is something from the past, I'm afraid.

Regarding wheels. There were an impressive array of leats/launders on the banks of the Tamar. DGC used a lot of wheels. Fowey consols was pretty impressive too. They slung what amounted to a small river on launders around a rocky outcrop (as another landowner wouldn't let them use another stream) and that operated a huge cascase of wheels which did everything from sawmills, pumping, winding, etc. Incredible.

Oddly enough, from the energy perspective, the only mine (I know of) to attempt to use wind to pump workings was Kit Hill. I gather it was ineffective and other means had to be installed as backup. One day after a storm, the windmill "was gone".

I wonder if we'll see that level of innovation again......

What was perhaps even more incredible were the truly huge amounts of flat rods employed from some wheels. If an engineer drew a diagram/proposal, it would probably get laughed out of the room as violating the laws of physics.

anyway.....

Yes When I did appl chem Bsc 96 or 97 in Plymouth, no such fun either.
I expect any chemistry student studying explosives now needs a home office check and would be monitored should they dare refer to the internet to help with assignments.

Is the radioactive waste container still there (it was 5 years ago)..I think it may have been a student joke, as it never got moved in 3 visits over 3 years. (large barrel with radioactive symbols on it).

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Oddly enough, from the energy perspective, the only mine (I know of) to attempt to use wind to pump workings was Kit Hill. I gather it was ineffective and other means had to be installed as backup. One day after a storm, the windmill "was gone".

Interestingly Windmills in mining are alot more common to mining than you would think, below are a few references to known use of Windmills for pumping-

1578 Wind engine on Bucket and chain pumps at Wollaton Notts
1686 Whitehaven coal mines
1708,Scotland was considering there use and eventually several were installed quite successfully, last being built in 1737.
1709, Newcastle Coal mines using windpower
Pre 1711, Treheere mine using windpower
1730s Flint lead mines using windpower, Trlogan Mine and others soon follow
1740, Wigan Coalfield using Windpower
1752, A "St Austle" mine recorded using windpower
1761, Mine in kingswood using windpower
1785, Parys Mountain Mine using windpower
1797, Ding Dong using wind power
1802, Hafod Las Quarry using Windpower, Cilgwyn 1806 also

There are many more references relating to windpower I could quote but the above are the best known, the only major fault being what to do when the wind stopped blowing.
Mostly lift bucket type pumps were used but later a system of cranks was incorporated enable rocking beams to operate the pumps!

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Regarding chemistry, I did pure chem bsc in 97 and it had no such fun.

I've taught everything from Y7 to college level and interesting demos aren't usually done anymore, apart from induction days. Staff aren't trained themselves and a lot of the time would be better spent actually facilitating learning rather than "messing about". Practical science is something from the past, I'm afraid.

Regarding wheels. There were an impressive array of leats/launders on the banks of the Tamar. DGC used a lot of wheels. Fowey consols was pretty impressive too. They slung what amounted to a small river on launders around a rocky outcrop (as another landowner wouldn't let them use another stream) and that operated a huge cascase of wheels which did everything from sawmills, pumping, winding, etc. Incredible.

Oddly enough, from the energy perspective, the only mine (I know of) to attempt to use wind to pump workings was Kit Hill. I gather it was ineffective and other means had to be installed as backup. One day after a storm, the windmill "was gone".

I wonder if we'll see that level of innovation again......

What was perhaps even more incredible were the truly huge amounts of flat rods employed from some wheels. If an engineer drew a diagram/proposal, it would probably get laughed out of the room as violating the laws of physics.

anyway.....

Mona (next to Parys) in north wales had a windmill for pumping but it was backed up / supported by a steam engine as well

Its a real misconception that windpower in mining wasn't much tried, Very interesting Mona had a Windmill too, do we know if it was a similar size etc?

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Its a real misconception that windpower in mining wasn't much tried, Very interesting Mona had a Windmill too, do we know if it was a similar size etc?

The one you referenced for parys is actually feeding mona. At least that is how I understand it. The two mine are seperate and are only connected for the purposes of drainage. The windmill on the sky line fed a pump rod that ran down a cairns shaft in mona (the pump rods are still there hanging as are the balance bobs)

Wind engine as applied to mining purposes

🔗Personal-Album-1228-Image-48246[linkphoto]Personal-Album-1228-Image-48246[/linkphoto][/link]

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oh right... I wondered why I had missed the fact there was a second windmill... explains alot! cheers

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The windmill at the Mona mine pumped from a depth of eighty fathoms at a rate of ninety gal's per min'.
This on average cut the pumping costs by about 50%

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Ta... 😉

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