Clifford Amalgamated Mines
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Clifford Amalgamated Mines was the final venture
of a series of earlier important and wealthy mines, including the
renowned United Mines and Consolidated Mines ventures. These mines
worked the area about Carharrack and Gwennap.
Previously known as Metal Works,
the United Mines were an amalgamation of several eighteenth
century tin and copper producers, including Poldory, Clifford,
Wheals Squire and Friendship, Cupboard and Ale and Cakes. The
United Mines sold 3,996 tons of copper ore in 1787, and between
1792-98, realised a profit of over £200,000 on a capital of less
than £20,000. |
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Consolidated Mines (colloquially known as Consols) were formed in
1780 and comprised the eighteenth century mines of Wheal Virgin,
West Wheal Virgin, Wheal Girl, Wheal Maid, Wheal Fortune and
Carharrack .The seven Newcomen engines were replaced by five
Boulton and Watt engines, later increased to seven. Like United,
between 1792-98 Consols realised a profit of over £200,000 on a
capital of less than £20,000. The falling price of copper on the
world market combined with the rising cost of running the Newcomen
engines conspired to close both mines in around 1805.
In 1811 United was restarted by Joseph
Sowell of Penryn, who on account of his trickery with floating the
shares, was soon dismissed and the Williams' of Scorrier took over
the running of the enterprise. By 1814 the company had been
equipped with 63'' cylinder pumping engines. The mine sett at this
time was something over a mile and a half in length. |
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In 1819 United and Consols mines were taken over by John Taylor
and Sons who turned these mines into the largest copper producer
in the world. Two 90'' engines were erected on Fortune's and Job's
Shafts. By 1820 they were producing a larger quantity of ore than
any other group in Cornwall, a position they retained for the next
20 years.
In 1824 United Mines were joined to those of Consolidated,
although each continued to keep separate accounts. By 1838 the
combined group was being operated by 10 pumping engines, three of
which were 90'' cylinder, whilst there were 11 other steam engines
for winding and crushing. The mine employed a total of 3,196 men,
women and children.
On an initial expenditure of £65,000, between 1819-40 Consolidated
yielded to the shareholders £480,156 in dividends. In the first 18
years of this undertaking the underground workings amounted to a
total of nearly 63 miles.
In 1840 the Taylor's lease expired and not being able to agree
with the owners for a renewal they picked the eyes out of the
mine, which then passed back to the Williams. Between 1840-42,
25,407 tons of ore was sold for over £160,000 and yielded an
amount in excess of £16,000 |
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Working conditions were gruelling. Temperatures at the 300 fathom
level in Consolidated were 96 degrees fahrenheit, exceeded by
those in United at 100 degrees with water issuing from the ground
being 96 degrees. In 1845 a man engine was installed as it took
over an hour and a quarter to ascend the mine after working in
appalling conditions.By the mid 1840s the mine was a shadow of its former self and by
1850 copper production was down to just 6,00 tons and it closed in
1858. The deepest workings from surface were then 320 fathoms,
2,000 people relied on the mine for employment, and the machinery
had an estimated value of £70,000. In 1861 the whole group was
worked as Clifford Amalgamated Mines which itself was
stopped in 1870. |
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Between 1880 and 1907 extensive recovery of dump material
occurred. The US forces were stationed at United Downs in WWII
particularly between Clifford United Stamps and Garland's Engine
House, the latter of which was destroyed as target practice. Small
scale amenity forestry obliterated further detail in the post-war
period. The south western section of the mine is partially covered
by a waste disposal site which has totally obliterated the
archaeology, whilst an industrial site occupies the north western
part. In the eastern half the former clock tower can be seen at SW
74542 41992. Once situated at the administrative heart of the
mine, it was partially dismantled by the Taylors and the mechanism
is reputed to have been taken to St Day and installed in the town
clock. The tower was consolidated 1999.
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