CORNELLY MINE |
This
mine was better known as Jones's when first worked in 1837 by the Isle
of Man Mining Company but was later renamed Townshend's Mine. The
initial development was was carried out on three shafts which had been
sunk on the back of the lode which runs in an West - East direction. The
first and most easterly is Mountain shaft but the first problem with
water was encountered at a depth of seven fathoms
and work was suspended until 1840 when a small beam engine for
pumping and the crushing of ore was put to work. by 1841, the sinking
into the granite was proving to be hard going and by now and at greater
depth, the water yet again hindered progress. That same year, an order
was placed for the purchase of a 50 /90 inch combined cylinder engine
from James Sims of Redruth which was modeled on the engine at the Carn
Brea Mine in Cornwall. By 1846, a new shaft had
been sunk to a depth of 60 fathoms and was to be the Engine shaft but a
decision was made to sink a new Engine shaft further westward to give
better access on the lode. Both shafts were connected by the 80 fathom
level where the lode was producing good ore but by 1849 the new shaft
had reached a depth of 95 fathoms where the lode was found to be profitless
and and the mine was abandoned. In 1866, a series of trials were
carried out at surface with a view of picking up the lode but little was
found. Work recommenced in 1878 with re-design of the surface workings
and mining got underway a year later with ore being raised from the old
workings at 20, 40, 50, 65 and 80 fathom levels. The mine closed in
1886.
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