TeamManley
The
Caradon Footpath
Gonamena Mine
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The
Caradon Footpath
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Remains of Gonamena mine from the footpath.
Summer 2001 The footpath cuts through the Gonamena Mine sett between the top and bottom of the incline. This view is from the footpath near the top of the incline looking towards Caradon Hill summit. Remains at the mine are in poor condition and agricultural activity has littered the area with disused equipment and waste. In this picture the stump of one of the engine house chimneys can be seen. Gonamena Mine lay astride the Seaton Valley to the north of the rich South and West Caradon Mines in an area worked in earlier centuries for tin. Despite its promising location the mine never managed to gain great success and it had a history of sporadic production. It was in operation from 1844 to 1877 with a later attempt at re-opening in 1883 to 1886. It employed a maximum of 94 workers and produced a total of 9693 tons of copper ore, peaking at 961 tons in 1860. |