Dear Trevor

We believe in sharing (see below)!

Paul Brough

Historic Collections Manager

Visit the controversial world of 18th century Cornish mining. See the
letters of Matthew Boulton, James Watt, Thomas Wilson, their partners and
enemies at www.cornish-mining.org.uk/mintech/boulton_watt/boulton_watt.htm

Supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund


-----Original Message-----
From: Trevor Dunkerley [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 12 April 2005 23:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mining in the South West of England

Hi Mike,

>those present in Exeter should reflect on why mining history in the SW was
25 years behind its counterpart in the north
>(of the M4) was not entirely jocular.

At the risk of being 'shot at dawn' by born and bred Devonians, this 'b****y
incomer', as I am proverbially known, would offer the suggestion that it
isn't just mining history which is 25 years behind its northern
counterparts.

Having been born and bred in Bonsall, between the age of 6 to 26 years I had
probably explored most, if not all the mining systems in Derbyshire, and
surveyed many of them. My first job after leaving school was as a dry stone
wall trainee on Masson Moor which I stuck for two summers and winters. I
then got a job with Derbyshire Stone at Matlock surveying many of the old
man systems to identify fluorspar deposits left by the old man - DS were
well into mining fluorspar in those days for the steel industry. I got a
paid for doing a job which was a passionate hobby!

In retirement anything to do with mines and mining, smelting, metallurgy and
the like is still a passionate hobby, and yes, down here in the South West
there are one or two I know who are equally as passionate - but, there is a
singular difference in my observations to the passions of a southerner and a
northerner. Down here such passion means 'keeping the information you have
gathered, from whatever source to yourself'. The sharing of information is
hard work. I have spent the last seven years encouraging enthusiasm,
passion, the need to share, the need to compare notes, and above all to have
the humility to state that I was wrong and see the other persons point of
view. To get rid of entrenched ideas.

Alas I fear that until suspicions, entrenchment of ideas, a willingness to
'see' clearly change, then mining history will continue to lack behind its
northern counterparts.

As for archaeology - well, that's another matter. Here in Combe Martin there
are few signs left of a mining history. The area over the last 100 years has
been intensively farmed horticulturally (smoothed over in a manner which you
certainly would not get in northern climes) and one has to learn to 'read'
the landscape and slowly fit all the pieces of the jigsaw together. I
believe that the only way to achieve this in this area is through
archaeological techniques - oh, all the evidence is still there, but it is
buried under many meters of mine waste throughout the valley. But that's
another story.

regards,

Trevor

Also at:

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