354:. By 1839 the mine was employing 3,000 people, and the previous year it was recorded that 826 men and boys were working more than 100 fathoms (180 m) underground, at an average depth of 229 fathoms (419 m). One of the youngest children recorded as working down a Cornish mine was killed near the 120 fathoms (220 m) level in November 1831. He was eight years old. Some of the lower workings were extremely hot: for instance the air temperature at the 294 fathom (538 m) level was recorded at 96 °F (36 °C), increasing to 108 °F (42 °C) in places, and the water that collected at the bottom of Davey's shaft was 92.5 °F (33.6 °C)—the men working in the lower levels used this to cool themselves!
68:
61:
1482:
36:
389:. Several of the shafts at the mine are still open, but covered with "Clwyd Caps", which are pyramidal wire meshes. These include Bawden's shaft, Michell's shaft, and Woolf's shaft which was sunk in 1826 and at 300 fathoms was one of the deepest in the area. There are a few ruined buildings, a tall chimney and two engine houses in ruins. A clock tower survives at the former site of
357:
During its relatively short life, Consols was a phenomenally productive copper mine: between 1819 and 1858 it produced 442,493 tons of ore, the largest quantity from any single mine in
Cornwall, and the ore it had sold had realised over £2 million. Such was its fame that many other mines were opened
361:
By the 1850s it was clear that the copper mines in the west of
Cornwall were becoming exhausted and this together with the start of foreign production (from Chile, for instance) led to a spate of closures or further mergers to reduce running costs. Consolidated Mines ceased working in 1857, and in
334:
raised the capital (around £65,000) to restart the mine. The mine rapidly became profitable, but its problem with underground water continued, and in 1820 "Job's Engine", which had a 90-inch-diameter cylinder, was installed for pumping water, followed in the next year by another engine of the same
329:
The Parys
Mountain ore was mined out by about 1800, and the price of copper soon rose again, reaching a high of £138 per ton in 1805. Many new mines were started and existing mines restarted at this time. Despite this boom, for some unknown reason Consols was substantially closed in or just before
316:
in
Anglesey was flooding the market. In 1787 Consols made a loss of some £8,000, and some time in the 1780s Boulton and Watt acquired an interest in the mine, probably in lieu of payment of their dues; furthermore in around 1788 the company reduced the dues to £1,000 a year to help keep the mine
305:'s standard terms which included payment of an annual charge (known as "dues") of one third of the fuel saved. In fact the mine negotiated with the company and paid £2,500 each year. In 1784, Boulton and Watt built the first steam whim (
286:, Wheal Fortune and Carharrack mine. The underground workings of these mines were interconnected, and before the merger they had been having significant problems with underground water. They were jointly running seven
281:
Although there had been mining in the area for over 400 years, Consolidated Mines was formed in 1782 by the amalgamation of a number of neighbouring mines including Wheal Girl, West Wheal Virgin, Wheal Virgin,
343:, and they were celebrated as being the largest and most powerful steam engines in the world at the time. A 58-inch engine was also installed, and by 1829 another three engines had to be added.
227:. Although always much troubled by underground water, the mine was at times highly profitable, and it was the largest single producer of copper ore in Cornwall. Today the mine is part of the
309:) in Cornwall here, and in 1788 they installed an underground pumping engine on the Wheal Virgin site; this was one of only two underground engines installed in Cornwall before 1850.
371:
301:
were ordered to replace the seven
Newcomens. The new engines were operational by 1782 and saved almost £11,000 a year on coal, though the mine had to agree to
1627:
318:
367:
294:, but the engines had been struggling to keep the water levels down and they were so expensive to run that all the mines had closed during 1779.
363:
312:
The end of the 18th century was a difficult time for
Cornish copper mines, because the vast quantity of ore that was being mined cheaply from
122:
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1622:
383:
228:
1205:
1587:
1461:
60:
1612:
1607:
1568:
1533:
358:
using the words "Consolidated" or "Consols" in their names, hoping to profit by association with the success story.
1617:
1146:
347:
331:
402:
270:
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243:
317:
open. At this time it was one of only two mines in
Cornwall to employ over a thousand people,
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8:
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231:
1209:
212:
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was about 600 yards north–south; and 2,700 yards east–west, to the east of
20:
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219:, Cornwall, England. Mainly active during the first half of the 19th century, its
1487:
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287:
313:
306:
266:
1601:
1156:
137:
124:
258:, arsenic, pyrite and zinc ore were also raised. There are about eight main
1141:
350:
to transport the ore from this mine (and other ones nearby) to the port of
336:
187:
220:
382:
Today, the site is within area A6i (The
Gwennap Mining District) of the
1151:
390:
283:
224:
41:
1425:"Cornish Mining World Heritage - Gwennap Mining District Location Map"
255:
102:
1450:
Burt, Roger; Burnley, Ray; Gill, Michael; Neill, Alasdair (2014).
351:
92:
1545:
251:
247:
216:
163:
263:
35:
1548:
259:
330:
1811 and it was not until 1819 that mining entrepreneur
415:
Copper
Production (from ticketing records; 1804-1854)
1528:. Pool, Camborne, Cornwall: Penhellick Publications.
1477:
1449:
1112:
Or Consols, Great. Adjusted from Mineral Statistics
335:
size. Both were single-cylinder engines designed by
269:. The most important lode was Virgin Lode which was
1563:(4th ed.). Newton Abbot: David and Charles.
1599:
1517:A History of Copper Mining in Cornwall and Devon
1555:
1580:The Mining Heritage of Cornwall and West Devon
1519:(3rd ed.). Truro: D. Bradford Barton Ltd.
1501:(New ed.). Truro: D. Bradford Barton Ltd.
16:Former metalliferous mine in Cornwall, England
517:Consolidated: See Virgin, Maid, Virgin, West
500:Consolidated: See Virgin, Maid, Virgin, West
483:Consolidated: See Virgin, Maid, Virgin, West
466:Consolidated: See Virgin, Maid, Virgin, West
449:Consolidated: See Virgin, Maid, Virgin, West
374:, which continued, unprofitably, until 1870.
1628:Industrial archaeological sites in Cornwall
1453:Mining in Cornwall and Devon: Mines and Men
290:to pump water from their workings into the
1508:Essays in Cornish Mining History, Volume 1
1164:; name inspired by Consolidated's success.
67:
407:Mineral Statistics of the United Kingdom
384:Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
229:Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
215:mine about a mile ESE of the village of
1577:
1523:
1250:
1248:
362:1861 amalgamated with the neighbouring
1600:
1514:
1505:
1496:
1188:
1186:
1542:
1266:
1264:
1262:
1260:
1229:
1227:
1200:
1198:
396:
1245:
1582:. Wellington, Somerset: Halsgrove.
1208:. Cornwall in Focus. Archived from
1183:
13:
1427:. Cornwall Council. Archived from
1257:
1224:
1195:
276:
273:for over 1.3 miles (2.1 km).
14:
1639:
1623:Zinc mines in the United Kingdom
1480:
250:and the mine's main produce was
66:
59:
34:
1443:
1417:
1408:
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1381:
1372:
1363:
1354:
1345:
1336:
1327:
1318:
1309:
1300:
1291:
993:Or Consols. Fluorspar excluded
976:Or Consols. Fluorspar excluded
959:Or Consols. Fluorspar excluded
324:
1456:. University of Exeter Press.
1282:
1273:
1236:
1206:"Consolidated Mines (Consols)"
1174:
1147:Redruth and Chasewater Railway
348:Redruth and Chasewater Railway
1:
1168:
568:Or Consols, New. With Virgin
551:Or Consols, New. With Virgin
534:Or Consols, New. With Virgin
1510:. Truro: D. Bradford Barton.
1360:Barton 1968, p.14 (footnote)
297:As part of the merger, five
7:
1369:Hamilton Jenkin 1972, p.219
1288:Hamilton Jenkin 1972, p.158
1254:Hamilton Jenkin 1972, p.101
1135:
1095:Or Consols, Great, Consols
203:, but most commonly called
10:
1644:
1473:
1306:Hamilton Jenkin 1972, p.91
372:Clifford Amalgamated Mines
254:, though small amounts of
237:
18:
1613:Arsenic mines in Cornwall
346:In 1824 Taylor built the
182:
174:
169:
158:
153:
116:
108:
98:
88:
54:
49:
33:
1608:Copper mines in Cornwall
619:Consols or Consols, New
602:Consols or Consols, New
585:Consols or Consols, New
377:
299:Boulton and Watt engines
262:at the mine, crossed by
19:Not to be confused with
1578:Hancock, Peter (2008).
1499:The Cornish Beam Engine
1270:Hancock 2008, pp. 65–66
201:Great Consolidated mine
1557:Hamilton Jenkin, A. K.
1515:Barton, D. B. (1978).
1506:Barton, D. B. (1968).
1497:Barton, D. B. (1966).
1618:Tin mines in Cornwall
1543:Dines, H. G. (1956).
1526:The Great County Adit
1524:Buckley, J A (2000).
1297:Barton 1978, pp.32,37
341:Neath Abbey Ironworks
80:Location in Cornwall
1551:. pp. 418–420.
1431:on 21 November 2008
1162:Devon Great Consols
416:
387:World Heritage Site
232:World Heritage Site
134: /
30:
1396:Barton 1968, p.102
1351:Barton 1966, p.207
1279:Barton 1966, p.233
1242:Buckley 2000, p.49
1212:on 28 January 2010
908:With United Mines
874:With United Mines
857:With United Mines
414:
397:Mineral Statistics
197:Consolidated Mines
186:1857 (merged with
74:Consolidated Mines
29:Consolidated Mines
28:
1589:978-1-84114-753-6
1561:The Cornish Miner
1463:978-0-85989-889-8
1342:Barton 1978, p.52
1333:Barton 1966, p.41
1324:Barton 1978, p.51
1315:Barton 1978, p.45
1233:Barton 1978, p.31
1192:Dines 1956, p.418
1180:Dines 1956, p.420
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339:and built by the
321:being the other.
292:Great County Adit
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21:Consolidated Mine
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288:Newcomen engines
246:at the mine was
199:, also known as
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1570:0-7153-5486-8
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1433:. Retrieved
1429:the original
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1238:
1214:. Retrieved
1210:the original
1176:
1142:Poldice mine
1129:From HJ/7/6
409:
406:
400:
381:
364:United Mines
360:
356:
345:
337:Arthur Woolf
328:
325:1800 onwards
311:
296:
280:
244:country rock
241:
208:
204:
200:
196:
195:
188:United Downs
25:
1078:Or Consols
1061:Or Consols
1044:Or Consols
1027:Or Consols
1010:Or Consols
942:Or Consols
423:Ore (Tons)
403:Robert Hunt
332:John Taylor
221:mining sett
141: /
117:Coordinates
1602:Categories
1547:. London:
1169:References
1152:Wheal Jane
973:144545.65
956:132483.93
939:123588.03
922:140232.40
905:140060.20
888:134005.63
871:142040.38
854:115929.30
837:102314.05
769:101792.40
735:116434.95
718:109297.20
701:101354.05
429:Value (£)
391:Wheal Maid
284:Wheal Maid
225:Carharrack
162:Primarily
154:Production
126:50°14′06″N
42:Wheal Maid
1435:10 August
1109:54331.48
1092:59176.68
1075:51146.65
1058:52157.80
1041:58479.45
1035:10533.00
1024:62791.28
1018:10588.00
1007:75847.88
1001:11679.00
990:89429.15
984:14611.00
967:24535.00
950:19843.00
933:19859.00
916:18000.00
899:20543.00
882:20179.00
865:18301.00
848:15846.00
831:15310.00
820:89254.05
814:13069.00
803:92871.50
797:13554.00
786:92443.03
780:12908.00
763:14056.00
752:92140.50
746:13852.00
729:13060.00
712:14756.00
695:14185.00
684:82690.43
678:12884.00
667:51360.48
650:10940.73
256:black tin
129:5°09′47″W
1559:(1972).
1216:7 August
1136:See also
1103:9102.00
1086:9804.00
1069:8798.00
1052:9758.00
987:1139.73
970:1970.11
953:1718.77
936:1670.63
919:1487.65
902:1853.05
885:1743.00
868:1718.83
851:1545.40
834:1468.94
817:1236.83
806:Consols
800:1218.39
783:1166.95
772:Consols
766:1313.68
749:1221.94
732:1179.23
721:Consols
715:1342.81
704:Consols
698:1278.94
687:Consols
681:1100.79
670:Consols
661:8597.00
653:Consols
644:1574.00
636:Consols
633:7208.13
616:5043.25
599:2281.80
582:3169.83
565:3975.18
548:3971.45
432:Comment
420:Year(s)
370:to form
190:in 1861)
159:Products
103:Cornwall
89:Location
50:Location
1474:Sources
1126:180.55
1106:746.05
1089:812.10
1072:685.72
1055:729.95
1038:799.48
1021:812.70
1004:858.87
664:746.29
647:135.37
627:888.00
610:599.00
593:399.00
576:564.00
559:649.00
542:605.00
531:872.43
525:163.00
352:Devoran
238:Geology
205:Consols
170:History
112:England
109:Country
93:Gwennap
1586:
1567:
1532:
1460:
1120:37.00
630:77.43
613:48.68
596:30.17
579:48.46
562:49.58
545:42.70
271:stoped
252:copper
248:killas
217:St Day
211:was a
183:Closed
175:Opened
164:copper
99:County
1123:1.84
1117:1858
1100:1847
1083:1846
1066:1845
1049:1844
1032:1843
1015:1842
998:1841
981:1840
964:1839
947:1838
930:1837
913:1836
896:1835
879:1834
862:1833
845:1832
828:1831
811:1830
794:1829
777:1828
760:1827
743:1826
726:1825
709:1824
692:1823
675:1822
658:1821
641:1820
624:1819
607:1818
590:1817
573:1816
556:1815
539:1814
528:9.44
522:1813
505:1812
488:1810
471:1807
454:1806
437:1804
401:From
378:Today
267:dykes
264:elvan
260:lodes
1584:ISBN
1565:ISBN
1549:HMSO
1530:ISBN
1458:ISBN
1437:2009
1218:2009
366:and
242:The
178:1782
40:The
925:..
891:..
840:..
823:..
789:..
755:..
738:..
514:..
511:..
508:..
497:..
494:..
491:..
480:..
477:..
474:..
463:..
460:..
457:..
446:..
443:..
440:..
405:'s
207:or
1604::
1259:^
1247:^
1226:^
1197:^
1185:^
393:.
234:.
1592:.
1573:.
1538:.
1466:.
1439:.
1220:.
410:.
23:.
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