Further to Chris & Peter's postings - Here in the Tamar Valley one comes
across the oft repeated (and unfounded) myth that French, Napoleonic
Convicts were used in the driving of the Tavistock Canal Tunnel under
Morwell Down. I believe that a plaque exists to this effect somewhere in
Tavistock.
Rick Stewart
At 19:32 06/02/06, Chris Kelland wrote:
>Mining Journals of 4th Feb; 18th Feb; 11th Mar. & 25th Mar. 1837. I
>have found these articles rather interesting in that it states 'Convicts'
>were to be used in the Royal Mines.
Chris,
A word of caution. The publication cited in the Mining Journal was
written by Bushell as a form of self promotion to further his cause
in the Cardiganshire mines. Any suggestion that persons 'condemned
for small offences' would be sent to work in the mines was just that,
a suggestion on his part; no doubt conceived as a cost saving
exercise. I'm not aware of any evidence that 'convicts' were ever
employed in British metal mine.
Peter
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