We lived in Polgooth in the late 1960's and I recall that it was claimed to
have had the largest tin output of any source in the world - at one time in
its history.
The St Austell golf course was built partly on mine land and water was
pumped from a flooded shaft for irrigation.
The Sweet family had a waterwheel driven stamp (remains of which were then
still visible and had worked some of the old spoil prior to WWll. Cyrus
Redding's Illustrated Itinerary of Cornwall (1862 I think) makes brief
reference to the ancient tin mine of Polgooth but an earlier lady traveller,
whose book I can't locate at present, referred to St Austell as "owing its
only fame to the proximity to the Polgooth mine - or words to that effect.
The excesses of its miners attracted special treatment from Wesley so I
expect that there will be plenty of information on record.
Martin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynne Mayers" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 1:25 PM
Subject: Polgooth Query
I wonder if anyone can help me on details of a mine that closed in the St.
Ewe area mid or late 1820s? I am not sure of the dates for Polgooth. The
only surving firsthand (or near firsthand) account of life as a bal maiden
in early 19th century comes from Patty Tremelling who lived near the St.
Ewe/St. Mewan/St. Austell boundary and spoke of her father, brothers and
herself being thrown out of work at this time. She then seems to have gone
to board in the Truro area to take up work there.
Many thanks
Lynne Mayers
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