The South Caradon post series continue with the second of the engine houses at Sump shaft.
A horizontal whim engine house
Sump shaft winding engine house lies up-slope of Sump Shaft, and in addition to winding at Sump shaft this engine provided power by flat-rods to Pearce’s shaft higher up the hill.
A 22 inch horizontal engine was housed in this building (some sources state a 16/30″). The was engine designed by William West, and was probably installed in 1844 (ref CAU) .
Horizontal engines did not require a substantial bob wall and the structure was therefore lighter than a traditional Cornish Engine house.
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The engine house in the 1880s
The picture clearly shows that the sump shaft winding engine house was not a traditional Cornish beam engine structure. The boiler house is sited on this side, and its lean to roof can be seen, the loadings and flywheel are on the opposite hidden face.The headgear of Pearce’s shaft lies to the left of the view and the chimney on the right was believed to have served a steam capstan.
This house now has two partial walls and a partial height chimney still standing. On the left side are the loadings for the winding drum and flat rods crank. On the opposite wall low walls mark the position of a long narrow boiler house with the chimney on its uphill side. The boiler house may have been extended to the south to accommodate a second boiler.
The engine house in 2012
These pictures were taken soon after the Caradon Hill Project had stabilised the structure.
This view looks up slope towards Pearce’s Shaft. The ruined western and northern walls are closest to the camera, with the best preserved southern wall to the right of the view.
Looking from the north-east corner, the whim cage loadings are on the right.
The inside of the winding house, looking up the alignment of flat-rods
Looking down the loadings towards Sump Shaft and its pumping engine house. The tips in the background are those of West Caradon Mine.
Flat rods, Flatrods, Flat-rods
Horizontal wood or iron rods used for communicating power from one part of a mine to another. Flat-rods were often used to transfer power from an engine, or waterwheel to a remote shaft. The rods ran on rollers, or pivoted arms.
Books about William West
South Caradon’s Engineer
navsbooks 