Although Man engines were developed and installed in mines in many countries
during the last Century, the Cornish design man engines were relatively
scarce, with less than 20 known to have been constructed anywhere in the
world. The Man Engine House at Allihies is one of these. Not only is it
unique in Ireland, it is unique internationally, as it is the sole surviving
purpose built, Cornish design man engine house anywhere in the World.
Built in 1862, reputedly by Michael Loam, the Cornish designer of such
engines, it operated until closure of the Mountain Mine in 1882, and it has
lain derelict since then. Despite this, the building is remarkably intact,
still retaining many of its original features: the engine house and winding
gear plinth, a nearly intact chimney, and, most unusually, much of the
boiler house and a large coal bunker.
Allihies was the premier copper mining district in Ireland during the 19th
Century - and its history is now one of the best documented ["The Berehaven
Copper Mines" by Alan Williams]through the fortuitous survival of the papers
and records of the mine owners, the Puxley family. At its zenith, up to
1000 people were employed at this and other mines in the district, many of
whom emigrated, along with other mining families from Bunmahon in Co.
Waterford, to Butte, Montana, USA, when the mines shut in the 1880s.
Emigration is a common story in Ireland, but in this instance, the diaspora
of Irish mining families is an Irish dimension to a much bigger story - the
worldwide diaspora of Cornish people and their technology to the USA,
Mexico, Australia and Spain, to name but a few examples. Hopefully, in a
year or so, world recognition will be given to this truly international
heritage shared by so many nations, with the designation of Cornish Mining
as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, now on the UK candidate site short list.
Mine Heritage is a concept still in its infancy in Ireland, and we have many
mountains to climb to achieve the due recognition and regard for a human
endeavour which has contributed so much to the country for thousands of
years - perhaps best reflected by the wealth of beautiful Bronze Age, gold
and bronze ornaments and artefacts. While the more ancient facets are
cherished and conserved, the same cannot be said for the more recent
remains, yet despite the general apathy, more and more, primarily community
based groups are now starting to fight to preserve what they cherish as part
of their cultural heritage: for example, at Avoca [www.celtic-copper.com],
Bunmahon, Shallee-Silvermies, Arigna, Castlecomer, and not least, in
Allihies.
We in Ireland, through the Mining Heritage Society of Ireland [MHSI] and the
many community groups, wish to play our part in conserving what remains of
this particular type of industrial heritage - for the benefit of local
communities, visitors from home and overseas, and, not least, so that we can
contribute to the global story of human and technological diasporas. But we
need help, and so, through the pages of this mining history newsgroup (and
through other mechanisms), we ask for your help and support to conserve our
paramount national mine heritage icon - the Allihies Man Engine House.
Details of the fund raising appeal are posted on the MHSI web site. We
invite whatever help and assistance you might be able to offer; financial;
suggestions for or help with fund raising; conservation and technical
skills, and so on.
MHSI web site: www.gsi.ie/mhsi [see "Appeal"]
Many thanks for taking the time to read this notice. If you would like
further info or wish to discuss any matter off-line, please contact me at my
email address below.
John Morris,
Treasurer, MHSI.
[email: [log in to unmask]]
PS. This notice has been posted with the agreement of the Newsgroup
Moderator, to whom we express our appreciation.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|