Browse Items (2317 total)

In the 19th century, large quantities of arsenic were refined and exported to the Americas for use against the boll weevil which was then threatening to destroy American cotton crops. After heat treatment, the arsenic was ground in a mill similar…

In 1865, the Crowns mining complex was visited by the Prince and Princess of Wales (the future Edward VII and Queen Alexandra). These cliffside shafts were thereafter known as The Crowns. Holmans St Just supplied most machinery to them in their…

Trevince arsenic stack See MIN 6.008 and MIN 8.022

Sunset over the Wheal Coates mine engine house.

Trevince arsenic stack. See MIN 8.020 and MIN 6.008

The engine house at United Mines in Gwennap, one of Cornwall's richest mining areas. This engine house was built in 1904 to house a stamping engine. (Photo by Tony Giles.) See MIN 8.025

Trevince arsenic stack See MIN 8.020 and MIN 8.022

The Ale and Cakes section of United Mines. This is one of the few remaining 18th century engine houses - many were demolished for Royal Engineers' explosives training in the Second World Wear before preservation laws were passed for such buildings.…

The engine house at United Mines in Gwennap, one of Cornwall's richest mining areas. This engine house was built in 1904 to house a stamping engine. (Photo by Tony Giles.) See MIN 8.023

Pictured is the south side of the East Pool winding machine. Adjoining the A30 trunk road from London to Land's End, this engine, still a prominent local landmark, is under the care of the National Trust and Trevithick Society and open to visitors at…

Mine surface complex.

A horse-powered winding "whim". A whim, also called a whim gin or a horse capstan, is a device similar to a windlass used in mining for hauling materials to the surface. It comprises a capstan or a wide drum with a vertical axle. A rope is wound…

A photograph of an etching of men emerging from the adit at Levant Mine surface complex. "Drawn and etched by AMP" (or AMS?) Levant Mine (National Trust)

Dolcoath Mine surface complex

General View of Site Explosive Store & misc Buildings

A Cornish stamp battery. A stamp battery is a type of mill machine that crushes material by pounding rather than grinding, either for further processing or for extraction of metallic ores.

A Cornish stamp battery. A stamp battery is a type of mill machine that crushes material by pounding rather than grinding, either for further processing or for extraction of metallic ores. This type of stamping machinery which would have contributed…

Wheal Bellan Mine. The building pictured is probably the "dry" where miners changed their clothes. Built in 1940 by the Ministry of Supply, it has since been demolished and is now a car park