A View of South Caradon
Facts behind the view
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 A view from 
"Caradon & Looe The Canal, Railways and Mines "
A book by Michael Messenger 
 
 
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Click on photo to see the view today
 
The view today
This View
South View
Mid View
 
Close ups from this picture
The Stamp engine
Sump Pump Engine
Sump Winding Engine
Pearce's Engine
The dressing shed
Cobbled floor
The Yard
Railway office
The Tramway
 
This amazing photograph is taken from a book published by Twelve heads press written by Michael Messenger and produced here with his kind permission. It is from the Neil Parkhouse collection. It  is only a partial reproduction of the complete photograph  in the publication and has been distorted slightly by reproduction process. The publication is worth buying for this photograph alone,let alone all the other excellent information it contains.   

The view shows the centre of operations of the South Caradon mine at its peak of development. It looks Eastwards across the Seaton Valley towards the slopes of Caradon Hill. Central to the view is south Caradon stamps to the left of which lie many of the subsidiary buildings of the mine. Two of the mine shafts lie in the background whilst the foreground is occupied by the Liskeard and Caradon railway siding with piles ore waiting shipment down to Looe harbour 

Michael messenger states that the photograph was taken sometime prior to the mines final enclosure in 1885. The existence of Pearce’s shaft engine house, built in 1870 ,confirms that the photograph was taken late in the mines life. Early in the mines history this area could have looked considerably different because of the improvements in facilities that occurred here between 1862 and 1864.  

Historical background   
This is a view of an industry in a decline, the peak activity of Cornish Copper mining having passed by the end of the 1870’s. The collapse of Cornish mining in the face of plummeting copper prices was to lead to the mass exodus from Cornwall in the 1880’s of up to a quarter  of the working population.  
And yet it is also a picture of Mine in full production with the output of  South Caradon becoming the largest in Cornwall during the 1870’s. Copper ore production averaged over 5800 Tons a year between 1870 and 1882 and even in the last three years up to 1885 it was still averaging above 3500 tons. This contradiction between success and failure is accounted for a by a plummeting price of Copper , a fall caused by the growth of new sources around the world. As the price fell the cost of  pumping and development could no longer be met and this famous mine was forced to close with copper still available beneath the ground.  

An interpretation  
The cluttered nature of a the processing area of a mine can clearly be seen. Buildings, tramways, leats, machinery, ore and waste  compete for the valuable space in the bottom of the Seaton Valley. Terracing and walled revetments add a three dimensional complexity to the layout.   
Despite the crowding of structures the scene gives an impression of an well maintained and organised site. Even the wooden roofs are in a good state of repair , a rarity in Cornish mines. In addition to its use in roofing ,wood can be seen to be used to form tramways, stairs, launders and walkways.    
An indication of the amount of extent of the rock removed from underground can be obtained from the amount of  waste rock visible. Caradon hillside behind the buildings is almost obscured by burrows from Sump and Pearce’s shaft, whilst the tips intruding from the right threaten to engulf the cart shed.  
Within this complex of buildings only two workers can be seen, one shoveling ore and another watching the photographer. This is on a mine that employed over 420 people in 1880, 177 of whom worked above surface. 
 
Caradon & Looe  
The Canal, Railways and Mines  
by Michael Messenger 


The definitive history of the Liskeard & Looe Union Canal, the Liskeard & Caradon Railway and the Liskeard & Looe Railway was first published in 1978 and has been scarce and sought after for some years. This new edition has been fully revised and benefits from additional research and many new illustrations. 
ISBN 0 906294 46 0. 168 pages, 222 illustrations. Hard back with full colour dustwrapper 


For an online supplier of this book see Willlow books 
For a supplier at Minions see Hurlers halt 
 
 
No public right away exists to any of the mine sites visible from this footpath. 
On many mine sites in Cornwall dangers may still exist, many hidden.  
This web site is published as a resource to those using the public right of way.
 

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