WEBB & GEACH EXPLORED-Liskeard Consols

This virtual journey of exploration based on Webb and Geach’s book ‘The history and progress of mining in the Liskeard and Caradon District’ ,  continues with another of the small mines described in the Trevithick Society’s reprint of the Victorian publication. This post covers the first of the mines described on page 99. 

Liskeard Consols

“…a mine situate a little south of the patch of greenstone forming St. Cleer Downs, was worked a few years since by a Liskeard Company, but after an incomplete trial it was abandoned.” Webb and Geach

Cornwall XXXVI.NW (includes: Liskeard Borough; Menheniot; St Cleer.) Surveyed: 1881 to 1882, Published: 1887

Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

Click here for the Map on Library of Scotland website>

Current OS map

To see the location on a current OS map click here>

 

 

 

Google Maps

Click here to explore the map>

Google Street view

Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council interactive map>

Reference : MCO56307
Name : LISKEARD CONSOLS – C19 mine
Monument type : BLACKSMITHS WORKSHOP, MINE, MINERS CHANGING HOUSE?
Period : Post Medieval
Form : DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE, EARTHWORK, EXTANT BUILDING
Summary : Liskeard Consols was worked between 1841 and 1844. All that remains of the site is a depression at the location of a shaft, and a cottage that is likely to have been either the smith’s shop or possibly the ‘dry’ or changing house for the mine.

Click here for the Heritage Gateway entry>

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For Webb and Geach and other John Manley’s books-click here>

 

Webb & Geach Explored-Wheal Venland

This virtual journey of exploration based on Webb and Geach’s book ‘The history and progress of mining in the Liskeard and Caradon District’ ,  continues with another of the small mines described on page 98 of the Trevithick Society’s reprint of the Victorian publication.

 

Wheal Venland

” …..Up went the shares, which were sold for fabulous amount, as also were the unfortunate purchasers, who soon found that the ore was cut out without leaving a trace of its existence.” Webb & Geach

Ordnance Survey Cornwall XXVIII.SW (includes: St Cleer.)
Surveyed: 1881 to 1882 Published: 1886

Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

Click here for the Map on Library of Scotland website>

Current OS map

To see the location  current OS Maps Click here>

 

 

 

 

Google maps

Click here to explore the map>

 

Google Street View

Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council interactive map

Reference : MCO38682
Name : WHEAL VENLAND – Post Medieval mine
Monument type : MINE
Period : Post Medieval
Form : EXTANT STRUCTURE

X COORD : 225450
Y COORD : 68100

Click here for Heritage Gateway entry>

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For Webb and Geach and other John Manley’s books-click here>

 

Webb and Geach explored-St. Cleer Consols

Now that the two talks on William West and John Taylor have been and gone, this blog will go exploring. Using Webb and Geach’s book ‘The history and progress of mining in the Liskeard and Caradon District’ as a base it will wander around the internet looking for clues for lost Cornish mines. This is the first of the series, so it is a bit of an experiment in layout and sources, please enjoy exploring the Cornish mines, wherever you are.

I have resisted the temptation to start at the obvious, the well known successful mines, and instead gone for the most obscure. Hidden away in page 98 of the Trevithick Society’s reprint of the Victorian publication  is some short descriptions of the small, failed attempts at mining in the district. Under the heading of ‘Miscellaneous’, these four pages refer to some of the most interesting mines in the area.

” Some mines of very great promises were abandoned through want of further outlay, which the then shareholders were unwilling to expend. In others the adventurers, not finding courses of ore at a comparatively shallow depth became disheartened” Webb and Geach

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Saint Cleer Consols

“…..a short cross-cut adit appears to have been driven on a lode of no great promise.” Webb and Geach page 98

Ordnance Survey Cornwall XXVIII.SW (includes: St Cleer.)
Surveyed: 1881 to 1882 Published: 1886

Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

One possible shaft is shown close west of the lane.

Click here for the Map on Library of Scotland website>

Current OS map

To see the location  current OS Maps Click here>

 

 

Google maps

Click here to explore the map>

Google Street View

Image capture May 2009 CO 2016 Google earth

Cornwall Council

Cornwall Council interactive map

PRN (CORNWALL) : 14071
SITE NAME : ST CLEER CONSOLS
SITE TYPE : MINE
FORM : EXTANT
EPOCH : Post-Medieval
PERIOD : 19
MRO INDEX : 1
SOURCE : CC-A11
X COORD : 225500
Y COORD : 68950

 

British Geological Survey

Geological Map>

Open Government Licence, Contains British Geological Survey materials © NERC 2016

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More mines to come over the next few months, so if you have enjoyed this armchair exploring follow this blog.

John Taylor, mining genius- An index of posts

Navsbooks>John Taylor>Index of Posts

Now that the Trevithick Society talk is over, it is a chance to pull together the various posts used during its preparation in a list. So if you have a desire to find out more about this 19th century mining genius- here is a few ideas. 

Ten facts about John Taylor

John Taylor- Key Dates

John Taylor- The forgotten hero of Norwich

Wheal Friendship the mine that made John Taylor 

John Taylor and the Tavistock Mines

John Taylor and the Halkyn Mines

The Copper crusher-John Taylor’s most important invention

The Cornish system beyond the Tamar

John Taylor and the Consolidated Mine

John Taylor a quick mine list

Cornish Engines Consolidated, Taylor and Woolf

Taylor’s Railway- The Redruth and Chacewater

On the economy of mines in Cornwall and
Devon

Lean’s reporter-John Taylor and some layers of history

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William West of Tredenham-Index of posts

 

Now that the series of posts on William West is over, it seems a good opportunity to index all the posts on this blog covering William West, the last great Cornish engineer. So if you wish to learn more about his life and works, have a wander around the posts.

William West- The boy who held a candle for Trevithick

West’s Double beat valve and the scourge of cholera

West and Darlington’s Hydraulic machinery

West’s Hydraulic accumulator

George Stevenson did not invent the railway

Phoenix United map

William West’s Caradon mines

William West The Last Great Cornish Engineer

William West-A Rapid Fire Biography

West’s Lattice Beams-Aesthetic engineering

Liskeard’s Lloyds Bank and William West

Richard Nicholls Worth and ‘A Sketch of the life of William West of Tredenham’

Luxullianite -West and Wellington

Luxullianite-A close up

10 Facts about William West, The Last Great Cornish Engineer

Phoenix United-William West’s Speech

1870-Phoenix United Mine, William West, and a grand day

The Man Engine- who invented it?

Steam Capstans- William West’s hidden invention

William West at Great Towan Mine-“a new era in duty of the steam engine”

William West and St. Blazey-Some maps

The Austen’s Engine trial

Austen’s engine trial, a letter from James Sims

Some threads in the history of the Last Great Cornish Engineer

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The William West book  reading list.

The last Great engineer book

 

 

Sketch of the life of William West C.E. of Tredenham-The last of the great Cornish Engineers