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A group of 'bal maidens' at Dolcoath who helped to "dress" or prepare the ores for crushing by the mills or stamps. Large numbers of women were employed in this way on all Cornish mines in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. In fact, during the…

A 19th century scene at Tincroft Mine in Carn Brea. The man and 'bal maidens' with their hammers and typical Cornish shovels broke down the large lumps or ore to prepare it for further crushing and washing when the tin and copper was later refined on…