Padstow, Bodmin, Newquay and Perranporth

Beacon Hill Mine - SW 9691 6215

Variously known as Beacon Hill Mine, Belovely or Belowda Beacon was chiefly a tin mine working Wheal Dora Lode and Webb's Lode. The enterprise was quite short-lived and was only in operation for 30 years - 1872 to 1902, during this time it produced 49 tons of tin. There were attempts at reopening the mine in 1909, 1921 and 1935 but these came to nothing.

Beacon Hill Mine, Belowda

Beacon Hill Mine, Belowda

Beacon Hill Mine, Belowda

Beacon Hill Mine, Belowda

The Bodmin and Wenford Railway and Wenfordbridge branch - SX 0415 6740

Well, the day started quite pleasantly while I watched 4612 arrive, run round it's train and head off again at Boscarne Junction, ahhh, memories. So then I set off up the Wenfordbridge branch and then it started to pour down with rain. But I did get to Wenfordbridge and back again.

Boscarne Junction and 4612	Boscarne Junction and 4612	Boscarne Junction and 4612	Boscarne Junction and 4612
Boscarne Junction and 4612	Dunmere Station	Dunmere level crossing	Dunmere level crossing
Hellandbridge level crossing	Quarry in Shell Woods	Wenfordbridge branch trackbed

Delabole Quarry - SX 0755 8420

The biggest hole in the world (at one time!)

Delabole Quarry

Delabole Quarry, 1986

Delabole Quarry, 1986

Padstow

The cast iron water tank at Padstow gun battery is embossed with "Douglass Bros Ld, Blaydon-on-Tyne, C & M 1888". The Stepper Point Quarry had a tramway running from the quarry to the building in the photo, a crusher or transfer point.

Pinkson Creek bridge, Padstow	'Sand Snipe' at Padstow	Padstow, 259 Miles from Waterloo?	Padstow old lifeboat station
Padstow gun battery	Padstow gun battery water tank	Padstow gun battery water tank	Padstow searchlight battery
Padstow generator house	Padstow generator house	Padstow generator house	Padstow generator house
Stepper Point Quarry building			Wadebridge Station and 31856

Trevose Head - SW 8505 7630
Trebetherick Point - SW 9250 7795

with quarries and shipwrecks

Trevose Head quarry loading dock	Trevose Head quarry	Trebetherick quarry
Shipwreck on Trebetherick Point	Shipwreck on Trebetherick Point	Shipwreck on Trebetherick Point

Newquay Canal - SW 8393 6273
Newquay town - SW 8115 6190

The Newquay end of the St Colomb Canal started at the top of Lusty Glaze incline, SW 8242 6255, and reached St Colomb Minor where the course can be traced along the hillside.
Newquay Harbour railway is now a footpath and the caves below have doors leading up to the hotels above.

Newquay canal, St Columb Minor	Newquay canal, St Columb Minor	Newquay canal incline, Lusty Glaze	Newquay canal incline, Lusty Glaze
Newquay harbour tunnel	Newquay caves	Newquay caves	Newquay caves

Treamble, near Perranporth - SW 7845 5610

Unusually for Cornwall, Treamble was an iron and Fullers Earth mine, with its own branchline from the Perranporth to Newquay Railway. It was mainly active between 1920 and 1940.

Treamble mines in 1905	Treamble branchline bridge	Treamble mine tramway bridge
Treamble mine tramway bridge	Treamble mine building	Treamble mine chimney

Par, St Austell and Fowey

The Luxulyan Valley and Treffrys Tramway

Joseph Treffry (1782 - 1850) was an industrialist with many interests in Mining, quarrying and china clay. He built the leat and tramway down the valley to the Fowey Consols Mine and the port of Par. Both the tramway and leat crossed the Par river valley on a unique 10-arched stone viaduct, the leat running beneath the tramway.

North of Treffry's Viaduct - SX 0540 5740

From Treffry's Viaduct the leat and tramway ran Northwards towards Luxulyan where the tramway was superseded by the Newquay railway. The original tramway ended at Molinnis.

Carmears tramway north of the viaduct	Carmears tramway north of the viaduct	Luxulyan village, Newquay branch
Leat North of Treffrys Viaduct	Tramway North of Treffrys Viaduct	Tramway North of Treffrys Viaduct

Colcerrow Quarry - SX 0645 5780

Colcerrow Quarry and Carbeans Quarry were at the end of a tramway branch from the South of Treffrys Viaduct. The Colcerrow line was the last part of the tramway to be used, traffic was worked from the quarry to Luxulyan, reversing at the viaduct, at least until the 1930s with a short stub in use until 1959.

Colcerrow Quarry tramway	Colcerrow quarry tramway	Colcerrow quarry tramway
Colcerrow quarry tramway	Colcerrow quarry tramway	Remains of crane, Colcerrow Quarry

Treffry's Viaduct - SX 0561 5721

Treffry's Viaduct carried the leat and tramway over the Par valley on a stone-built ten arch structure. The viaduct was probably uniqur in carrying both tramway and leat over the valley. It was built between 1839 and 1842 and designed and constructed by Treffry's steward, William Pease.

Treffry's Viaduct	Treffry's Viaduct	Treffry's Viaduct	Treffry's Viaduct
Treffry's Viaduct sluice gate	Treffrys Viaduct in a downpour	Treffrys Viaduct in a downpour	Treffrys Viaduct in a downpour
Treffry's Viaduct, Newquay branch	Newquay branch looking North	Newquay branch looking South

Carmears Tramway - SX 0631 5691

From Treffries Viaduct to Ponts Mill

Carmears tramway chair	Carmears tramway rail	Carmears tramway rail	'K', the Kendall boundary stone
'T', the Treffrey boundary stone	Carmears leat beside tramway	Carmears leat beside tramway	Carmears leat beside tramway
Tramway South of Treffrys Viaduct	Tramway South of Treffrys Viaduct	Carmears incline smithy
Carmears incline cable	Carmears incline checkers hut	Carmears incline	Carmears incline
Carmears incline	Carmears incline	Carmears incline bridge, Luxulyan	Carmears incline

Carmears Waterwheel - SX 0656 5667

The Carmears Waterwheel was buit in 1841and used firstly for incline haulage and later to power a clay crushing mill. Originally an 34ft wheel, a 40ft wheel was installed in the 1890s when it powered china stone grinding pans. The mill closed in 1908 and the wheel was broken up in 1940

Carmears Waterwheel	Carmears Waterwheel	Carmears Waterwheel
Carmears Waterwheel	Carmears Waterwheel	Carmears Waterwheel
Carmears Waterwheel	Carmears Waterwheel leat	Carmears incline waterwheel

The Lower Tramway and Trevanney Dry - SX 0660 5625

The lower tramway, built in 1868, served the Dry and then the Rock Mill Quarry and Orchard Quarry of the 'South Cornwall Granite Co'. Traffic to the Dry finished in 1960 and the quarries closed in 1928. Trevanney Dry was built in 1920 by the Central Cornwall China Clay Co. It was taken over by ECLP Ltd in 1935 and connected to their pipeline network and closed in 1965.

Ponts Mill Junction	Ponts Mill Junction	Ponts Mill branch at clay works	The lower tramway at Ponts Mill
The lower tramway at Ponts Mill	Rock Mill Viaduct, Trevanney	Rock Mill Viaduct, Trevanney
Trevanney Dry	Trevanney Dry	Trevanney Dry	Trevanney Dry
Trevanney Dry	Trevanney Dry	Trevanney Dry	Trevanney Dry
Trevanney Dry	Unknown ironmongery at Trevanny	The lower tramway	The lower tramway

Fowey and Polruan SX126513

Fowey boatyard	Carne Point building, Fowey	'Lady Ami' at Carne Point, Fowey	'Lady Ami' at Carne Point, Fowey
'Lady Ami' at Carne Point, Fowey	'Guardian' at Polruan shipyard	'Lantic Bay' at Polruan shipyard	'Kantoeng' tin dredger

Pont Quay - SX 1433 5185

Pont Quay (or Pont Pill) at the end of Pont Creek has two well-preserved limekilns, recorded here in 1814, the limestone coming from Plymouth. The tariff board is dated 1894 and there are two warehouses to hold the 'imports and exports' that crossed the River Fowey, roadstone, bricks, coal, manure and flour going in and grain and logs going out. There is also a corn mill, sawmill, a beer house and blacksmith shop around the quay. Pont Creek is believed to have inspired 'Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Graham.

Pont Quay in 1893	Pont Quay Southern limekiln	Pont Quay Southern limekiln	Pont Quay Southern limekiln
Pont Quay Southern limekiln draw-hole	Pont Quay Tariff Board, 1894	Pont Quay Northern limekiln	Pont Quay Northern limekiln
Pont Quay warehouses	Pont Quay warehouses

Caerhays, Gorran - SW 9724 4130

Below Caerhays Castle, on the seawall of Porthluney Bay, is this pillbox. Another one is hidden in the undergrowth near the castle.

Caerhays Castle pillbox

Caerhays Castle pillbox

Redruth

Moseley Heritage Museum, Redruth - SW 6853 4283

Moseley Heritage Museum, West Tolgus, Redruth, has an amazing collection of old model railways, Meccano sets and Cornish mining locomotives. If you ask nicely, they may let you drive one.

Moseley Museum '1 Macca'	Moseley Museum '1 Macca'	Moseley Museum '2 Smelter'	Moseley Museum '3'
Moseley Museum '3'	Moseley Museum '3'	Moseley Museum '3 The Lady D'	Moseley Museum '4 (Bincleaves)'
Moseley Museum '4 (Bincleaves)'	Moseley Museum '5 Anode'	Moseley Museum '6 Cathode'	Moseley Museum '8 (Little George)'
Moseley Museum '9'	Moseley Museum '11'	Moseley Museum '13 Lewis'	Moseley Museum '20 Diode'
Moseley Museum '72' and '64'	Moseley Museum OHE loco	Moseley Museum 'Atlas' shovel	Moseley Museum overhead shovel
Moseley Museum loco battery box	Moseley Museum wooden frame	Moseley Museum 'mine' exhibition	Moseley Museum tramcar trailer bodies
Moseley Museum driver training	Moseley Museum driver training	Moseley Museum driver training	Moseley Museum driver training
Moseley Museum driver training	Moseley Museum driver training	Moseley Museum driver training	Moseley Museum driver training

Around Redruth Town

Wheal Raven, Redruth - SW 6803 4255

Wheal Raven has three chimneys, the stepped chimney served a boiler house down in the valley. The other two are arsenic calciner flues. Wheal Raven worked in the 1830s and later became part of South and West Wheal Tolgus. Wheal Tehidy worked from 1834-1842 and 1851-1861 leaving its chimney for posterity and the chimneys of Wheal Uny stand out on the skyline. The valley was re-worked by 'The Cornish Tailings Co' between 1912 and 1918.

Wheal Raven, Tolgus Valley	Wheal Raven, Tolgus Valley	Wheal Raven, Tolgus Valley	Wheal Raven, Tolgus Valley
Wheal Raven, Tolgus Valley	Wheal Raven, Tolgus Valley	Wheal Tehidy chimney	Wheal Uny on the skyline

South Tincroft, Redruth - SW 6690 4470

South Tincroft mine was built c1860 to drain the main North Tincroft mine, on the other side of the railway line which has totally disappeared. Starting in 1680 as a copper mine, by 1870 Tincroft was a rich tin mine. It acquired Cook's Kitchen mine in 1895 and closed in 1921. The man engine whim was Dunkin's Shaft and was used as a man engine from 1874 to 1891. The air compressor house dates from the 1890s and drove the rock drills underground.

South Tincroft compressor house	South Tincroft compressor house	South Tincroft compressor house
South Tincroft man engine	South Tincroft man engine	South Tincroft man engine	South Tincroft man engine

Cook's Kitchen and new South Crofty Mine, Redruth - SW 664407

Old Cook's Kitchen dates from the early 1700s and was in use until 1913, being about 2500 ft deep by then. The two engine houses are on Chapples Shaft The pumping engine was a 50", later 55" and the winding engine 26", both dating from c1860. They are now both behind the security fence of the new South Crofty Mine.

Cook's Kitchen winding engine	Cook's Kitchen pumping engine	Cook's Kitchen notice	Cook's Kitchen leat
New South Crofty Mine	New South Crofty Mine	New South Crofty Mine	New South Crofty Mine
Tuckingmill Decline	The tunnels under the railway	The tunnels under the railway	The tunnels under the railway

South Crofty Mine, Redruth - SW 668412

South Crofty Mine is one of the oldest mines in Cornwall with history going back to 1670 as South Wheal Crofty. It was one of the last working mines in Cornwall, shutting down in 1998, to become a visitor centre. Robinson's engine house contains an 80" pumping engine built in 1854 in Hayle and erected here in 1903.

Robinson's engine house	Robinson's engine house	Robinson's engine house	Robinson's engine house
Robinson's beam engine	Robinson's beam engine	Robinson's shaft	Robinson's shaft
Robinson's boiler house	Water filtration	Powder magazine	Powder magazine notice
South Crofty Mine	Another chimney near South Crofty

East Pool and Ager Ltd (EPAL) Mine, Redruth - SW 673417

East Pool and Ager Mine has two sites, Taylors pumping engine and Mitchells winding engine. Taylors pumping engine is a 90" engine of 1892 but installed here in 1924. The engine worked until 1954 when electric pumps were installed. Mitchells 30" whim engine dates from 1887.

Taylors pumping engine	Taylors pumping engine
Mitchells winding engine	Mitchells winding engine	Mitchells winding engine

Wheal Francis and Wheal Basset

A very large complex of mines, stamps and smelters to the South of Redruth. They were all linked by their own tramways and inclines and also connected to the Redruth and Chasewater Railway at Lanner.

Wheal Francis and Wheal Basset

South Wheal Francis, c1905

Wheal Basset, c1905

South Wheal Francis - SW 6805 3935

The large copper and tin mine of South Wheal Francis,

South Wheal Francis boiler house	South Wheal Francis compressor house	South Wheal Francis compressor house	South Wheal Francis compressor house
South Wheal Francis engine house	South Wheal Francis engine house	South Wheal Francis engine house	South Wheal Francis engine house
South Wheal Francis engine house	South Wheal Francis engine house	South Wheal Francis miners dries	South Wheal Francis miners dries
South Wheal Francis miners dries	South Wheal Francis ore bin	South Wheal Francis ore bin	South Wheal Francis pumping house
South Wheal Francis Marriotts Shaft	South Wheal Francis Marriotts Shaft	South Wheal Francis Marriotts Shaft	South Wheal Francis winding house
South Wheal Francis winding house		Aerial view of South Wheal Francis	South Wheal Francis c1900

Daubuz and Pascoes Shafts - SW 6745 3905 and SW 6780 3935

Daubuz Shaft was the home of a 30" dual purpose winding and pumping engine from 1880, closing in 1918.
Pascoes Shaft had a 30" whim, built in 1879, and an 80" pumping engine, from 1887, closing with the complex in 1918. The pumping engine house has unusually narrow windows.

Daubuz engine house

Daubuz engine house

Daubuz engine house

Pascoes whim and pumping houses

The Basset Tramway

The Basset Tramway linked South Wheal Francis and other mines to the Basset stamps and the 'Redruth & Chacewater Railway'. It is now an excellent walking track linking many of the sites in the area. Between 1896 and 1919 it used a 1'8" gauge Orenstein & Koppel steam loco named 'Kimberley'.

The Basset Tramway	The Basset Tramway	The Basset Tramway	The Basset Tramway
The Basset Tramway	The Basset Tramway	The Basset Tramway	The Basset Tramway
Samson's Shaft	Samson's Shaft	The Basset Tramway	The Basset Tramway
The tramway to the R&CR	The tramway to the R&CR	The tramway to the R&CR

The Basset Stamps and Mines

A very large complex of mines, stamps and smelters to the South of Redruth. They were all linked by their own tramways and inclines and also connected to the Redruth and Chasewater Railway at Lanner.

East Basset Stamps - SW 6911 3985

Wheal Basset comprises of Wheal Basset mine, Wheal Basset stamps, West Wheal Basset stamps and, further away, West Wheal Basset mine.

East Basset stamps	East Basset stamps	East Basset stamps
East Basset stamps	East Basset stamps	East Basset stamps

Lyles Shaft and Carnkie Vilage - SW 6911 3985

Lyles Shaft was part of North Wheal Basset until it closed in 1872 when it was used for pumping from Wheal Basset

'Kimberley' 'OK' 040WT

Lyles Shaft, Carnkie

Carnkie Village wagon

Carnkie Village wagon

West Basset Stamps - SW 6880 4020

Wheal Basset comprises of Wheal Basset mine, Wheal Basset stamps, West Wheal Basset stamps and, further away, West Wheal Basset mine.

West Basset stamps	West Basset stamps	West Basset stamps	West Basset stamps
West Basset stamps	West Basset stamps	West Basset stamps	West Basset stamps

West Wheal Basset, Thomas's Shaft - SW 6815 3970

Thomas's Shaft has a date stone of 'AD 1854' and was unusual as it had the chimney inside the engine house which housed a 60" pumping engine. It was the eastern pumping shaft of West Wheal Basset.

Thomas's Shaft. West Wheal Basset

Thomas's Shaft. West Wheal Basset

East Wheal Basset, Seleggan Smelting Works - SW 6950 4015

The Cornish Tin Smelting Co opened the Seleggan Smelting Works in 1887. It was connected to the Redruth & Chasewater Railway by a branch from the yard at Buller Downs. It was the last smelting works in Cornwall by 1923 but it, too, closed in 1931.

Seleggan Smelting Works

Seleggan Smelting Works

The Tresavean Branch

The Tresavean Branch of the Hayle Railway ran from Redruth to mines at Tresavean.

The R&CR from Wheal Buller	The R&CR from Wheal Buller		Penance Consols Mine
Towards the incline and Redruth	Tresavean and R&CR level crossing	Level crossing at the Lanner Centre	From the Lanner Centre
Along the Tresavean Line	Along the Tresavean Line	Along the Tresavean Line	Along the Tresavean Line
Along the Tresavean Line	Along the Tresavean Line	Along the Tresavean Line	Along the Tresavean Line
Bridge under the line	Bridge under the line	Rough Street Bridge	Rough Street Bridge
Chapel Hill level crossing	Preserved track	Preserved track	Preserved track

Wheal Uny

The two engine houses of Wheal Uny are prominent on their hilltop. The pumping engine house, built in 1869 contained a 70" engine and the winding engine house, dated 1880, had a 26" engine. Hind's shaft, 1465 ft deep, was used for both pumping and winding and the mine closed in 1893. The small chimney was for the boiler house.

Wheal Uny engine houses	Wheal Uny engine houses	Wheal Uny engine houses	Wheal Uny engine houses
Wheal Uny engine houses	Wheal Uny pumping house	Wheal Uny pumping house	Wheal Uny pumping house
Wheal Uny pumping house	Wheal Uny pumping house	Wheal Uny pumping house	Wheal Uny pumping house
The 1465 ft deep Hind's Shaft	The 1465 ft deep Hind's Shaft	Wheal Uny winding house	Wheal Uny winding house
Wheal Uny winding house	Wheal Uny winding house	Wheal Uny winding house	Wheal Uny winding house
The boiler house chimney	The boiler house chimney

Penzance, St Ives and St Just

Botallack Crown Mines - SW 3623 3353

Botallack Crown Mines are one of the star attractions in Cornwall and are surrounded by all manner of industrial ruins.

Around Botallack	Around Botallack	Around Botallack	Around Botallack
Around Botallack	Around Botallack	Around Botallack	Around Botallack
Around Botallack	Around Botallack	Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines
Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines
Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines
Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines	Botallack Crowns Mines

Geevor Tin Mine - SW 3755 3450

Geevor Tin Mines Ltd was mining from 1911 to 1990 when falling tin prices forced its closure, to become a major museum. The mine itself dates back to at least 1791.

Geevor Tin Mine	Geevor Tin Mine	Geevor Tin Mine
Geevor Tin Mine	Geevor Tin Mine

Levant Tin Mine - SW 3685 3450

Levant Tin Mine is owned by the National Trust and houses a working steam-powered beam engine. The surrounding area is a maze of old shafts, workings and ruins.

Around Levant	Around Levant	Around Levant	Around Levant
Around Levant	Levant compressor house	Levant compressor house	Levant compressor house
Levant Tin Mine	Levant Tin Mine	Levant Tin Mine	Levant Tin Mine
Levant Tin Mine	Levant Tin Mine	Levant Tin Mine	Levant Tin Mine
Levant Mine beam engine	Levant Mine beam engine	Levant Mine beam engine	Levant Mine beam engine
Levant Mine beam engine	Levant Mine beam engine	Levant Mine beam engine	Levant Mine beam engine
Levant Mine beam engine	Levant Mine boiler	Levant Mine boiler	Levant Mine boiler
Levant Mine electric winding engine	Levant Mine cage	Levant Mine Skip Shaft	Levant Mine Skip Shaft
Levant Mine plan	Levant Mine plan	Levant Mine reservoir	Levant Mine lode or zawn
Levant Mine bath house	Levant Mine man engine	Levant Mine man engine	Levant Mine man engine
Levant Mine man engine	Levant Mine man engine	Levant Mine man engine	Levant Mine man engine

Penzance - SW 4770 3075

Penzance and a Class 08

Penzance and Classes 47 & 50

St Ives and Carrack Dews mine - SW 5108 4093

The Carrack Dews mine on Carrick Du was in existence by 1853 but disused and the engine houses in ruins in 1877, The site was quarried later just leaving this shaft.

Lelant pillbox	Lelant, bridge, St Ives branchline	St Ives harbour rails
Carrack Dews mineshaft, St Ives	Carrick Du quarry, St Ives

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

"Luxulyan Valley" published by the 'Friends of Luxulyan Valley' is an excellent guide to the footpaths and sights in the area. Thanks for their info to John Luxton.