Dolcoath mine

 ( Tin Mines In Cornwall ) 

Of around 470 copper-producing mines in Cornwall and Devon, Dolcoath became the fifth largest.Trounson & Bullen 1999, p.36 But as depth increased the copper died out, and by 1832 the mine was in danger of closing. However the mine captain, Charles Thomas, was convinced that tin ore would be found deeper down and after disagreements with the shareholders his faith was repaid and the first tin dividend was paid in 1853.

By 1882 the mine had reached a depth of and had of tunnels passable by men and a further of old workings which had become unused and impassable. In 1893 there was a major accident at the 412-fathom level (see below). In 1895 it took men employed in the lower levels between 2 and 3 hours to go down and return to the surface, so they could not work more than 4–5 hours a day.Trounson & Bullen 1999, p.47

Dolcoath became the largest and deepest mine in Cornwall, with its principal shaft, known as New Sump Shaft, eventually reaching a depth of below the surface. The pumping engine that worked this shaft dated from 1815; a piece of the cast iron bob from this engine is preserved in the collection of the Trevithick Society. This engine originally had a cylinder, but this had to be replaced with an cylinder when it was not powerful enough to cope with the deepening shaft. The rebuilt engine was so large that there was not enough room in the engine house for the stairs, so a unique wooden extension was built on the back to house them.Trounson & Bullen 1999, p.38

In 1895 it was decided to reconstruct the company as a limited company, replacing the old cost book system under which most Cornish mines had traditionally been run. A new shaft, named the Williams Shaft after the first chairman of the new company, was started in October 1895, intended to be the first vertical shaft in Cornwall. It was completed in 1910 and came into use the next year.Morrison 1983, p.52

In 1920 when the mine had become virtually worked out and following the tin price collapse (new deposits were also being found elsewhere in the world) Dolcoath finally closed. The company was reconstructed in 1923 when fresh capital was raised and a new circular shaft was sited north of the old mine at Roskear.Trounson & Bullen 1999, p.52 The New Dolcoath Mine was actually an amalgamation of several smaller mines including Stray Park and Roskear. In 1936 Dolcoath's mining sett was purchased by South Crofty.